| Plastics are one of the most beautiful inventions which have revolutionized the look and feel around you, as plastics are cheaper and easier to mold and fuse it with mind blowing colors their importance in daily life has increased drastically. Now we are in the age of plastic dependency and dont know how to dump this. The more we use plastics the more harm we do to the environment. Go green by reducing the dependency of plastics.
Listed are a few types of plastics which can be seen at the bottom of the plastic bottles which you see at your dining tables, bedrooms or kitchen. Take a closer look in your walmart shelf before it reaches your home.
Type: #1 Plastics
PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)
Usage: Water bottles and Soft drink PET plastic is the most common for single usage, easy to recycle, cheap and weighs less.
Type: #2 Plastics
HDPE (high density polyethylene)
Usage: Juice bottles, bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles, shampoo bottles. HDPE is a versatile plastic with especially for packaging. It is readily recyclable into many goods.
Type: #3 Plastics
V (Vinyl) or PVC
Usage: Window cleaner and detergent bottles, windows, piping PVC is tough plasic, so it is commonly used for piping. PVC releases toxins when it is burnt which can affect your health.
Type: #4 Plastics
LDPE (low density polyethylene)
Usage: dry cleaning and shopping bags, furniture, carpet LDPE is a flexible plastic with many applications.
Type: #5 Plastics
PP (polypropylene)
Usage: syrup bottles, ketchup bottles, caps, straws, medicine bottles Polypropylene has a high melting point, and so is often chosen for containers that must accept hot liquid. It is gradually becoming more accepted by recyclers.
Type: #6 Plastics
PS (polystyrene)
Usage: Disposable plates and cups, compact disc cases Evidence suggests polystyrene can leach potential toxins into foods. The material is difficult to recycle.
Type: #7 Plastics
Other classifications
Usage: sunglasses, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, nylon A wide variety of plastic resins that don't fit into the previous categories are lumped into
#7. Polycarbonate is #7, and is the hard plastic that has parents worried these days, after studies have shown it can leach potential hormone disruptors.
Which plastics do we need to avoid ??
#3 as they may release toxins.
#6 as they can leach potential toxins into foods
#7 - as Polycarbonate can leach bisphenol A -potential hormone disruptors |