Thursday, September 25, 2008

Plastic Recycling Code

Today I received a water bottle from my company for the Innovation Campaign.

Out of curiosity, I checked the recycling code. I notice the triangle sign with "1". What is that?

I did some google, plastic recycling code have 7. Here we go:

[Source 1] [Source 2] [Source 3]

1 - Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE)
Common Use: Plastic soft drink, water, sports drink, beer, mouthwash, catsup and salad dressing bottles. Peanut butter, pickle, jelly and jam jars. Ovenable film and ovenable prepared food trays.

Potential Problems: PETE have BPA that has been linked to breast and uterine cancer, an increased risk of miscarriage, and decreased testosterone levels.

2- High Density Polyethylene (HDPE).
Common Use: Milk, water, juice, cosmetic, shampoo, dish and laundry detergent bottles; yogurt and margarine tubs; cereal box liners; grocery, trash and retail bags.

Potential Problems: NO KNOWN PROBLEMS

3 - Vinyl (Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC)
Common Use: Clear food and non-food packaging, medical tubing, wire and cable insulation, film and sheet, construction products such as pipes, fittings, siding, floor tiles, carpet backing and window frames

Potential Problems: PVC can leach out.

4 - Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Common Use: Dry cleaning, bread and frozen food bags, squeezable bottles, e.g. honey, mustard.

Potential Problems: N/A

5 - Polypropylene (PP)
Common Use: Catsup bottles, yogurt containers and margarine tubs, medicine bottles.

Potential Problems: N/A

6 - Polystyrene (PS)
Common Use: Compact disc jackets, food service applications, grocery store meat trays, egg cartons, aspirin bottles, cups, plates, cutlery

Potential Problems: N/A

7 - Other
Common Use: Three and five gallon reusable water bottles, some citrus juice and catsup bottles.

Potential Problems: Can produce BPA that has been linked to breast and uterine cancer, an increased risk of miscarriage, and decreased testosterone levels.

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