Plastic Trouble

You have seen something like the following at some point in your life:

What exactly does it mean, and why is it stamped on the bottom of the container? Well, it’s there to make it so that plastics can be more easily sorted when they have to be recycled. The triangle composed of a few arrows is the universal symbol for recycling. The number inside of the triangle tells you what plastic you are holding. Here is a reference chart:

So what good is there in knowing what each of the numbers mean? For a start, it can be helpful when sometimes there are specific recycling bins for you to throw away your trash. Put since each type of plastic has a unique chemical composition, one has to be sure to find the right one for the job. An area of special importance is food storage, and only some of the plastics in the list are food safe. A handy at-a-glance chart:

So why are some of these safe while others should be avoided for food? The two that should be avoided is polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polystyrene (PS). Flexible polyvinyl chloride can contain phthalates that are known by the state of California to cause cancer or birth defects. These plasticizers may leach into food products, which is an issue. Polystyrene is another plastic that should be avoided because the styrene that it contains has been linked to brain damage and other physical effects.

As you can see, understanding the numbers on plastic products may be directly related to your health, and to the health of the planet.

Image Citations:
N.d. Keen for Green. Web. 19 Apr. 2016. <http://www.keenforgreen.com/recycle/is_number_1_plastic_recyclable>
N.d. The Bach. Web. 19 Apr. 2016. <https://bachodi.wordpress.com/2007/04/22/what-do-the-numbers-below-plastic-bottles-indicate/>.
N.d. Homemade for Elle. Web. 19 Apr. 2016. <http://homemadeforelle.com/plastic-containers-dangerous-health/>.