Good To Know: Plastic Recycling Guide

(Page 2 of 2)

September/October 2008
By Natural Home Staff 
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Number 6: PS (Polystyrene)
Found in: Disposable dishes, meat trays, egg cartons, carry-out containers, medicine bottles, CD cases
Recycling: Recycled through some curbside programs
Recycled into: Insulation, light-switch plates, egg cartons, rulers, foam packing, carry-out containers

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Number 7: (Miscellaneous, including polycarbonate)
Found in: “Bullet-proof” materials, sunglasses, DVDs, iPod/computer cases, signs and displays, food containers, nylon
Recycling: Traditionally not recycled; some curbside programs now take them
Recycled into: Plastic lumber,  custom-made products

-Brian Clark Howard

Plastic Recycling Symbols and Your Health

Plastic labels do more than direct recycling. These symbols can help you avoid bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that mimics estrogen and has been linked to breast cancer, obesity, infertility and insulin resistance in rodents. Use the plastic coding system to identify the safest solutions: number 2 HDPE, number 4 LDPE and number 5 PP. These plastics are typically opaque and not known to contain carcinogens or hormone-disrupting chemicals. Avoid number 7 plastics, which contain polycarbonate, the hard plastic that can potentially leach bisphenol A.

-Gina Souders

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