I buy plastic containers from Glad and other companies but I notice that the recycle code on the bottom says 5 and the higher the number the less recyclable they are. I noticed this about most butter containers too. Do any companies make more green friendly containers for their products or for us to use?
Best answer:
Answer by greenkisses41
Fabrikal makes green plastic containers.
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Uhm I am not sure where you heard this but it is not true. The number at the bottom of the container has nothing to do with the percentage of recycled material it contains. It represents the kind of material used, what kind of plastic it is.
ReplyDeleteHey Adam,
ReplyDeleteThe simplest way to make sure you are getting recyclable plastics is to check the packaging at the store. If it doesn't meet your local criteria for recycling, leave it on the shelf. As for storage containers at home, I would suggest using Pyrex containers. They don't contain any of the PBA's or other funny chemicals that plastics do. The glass they are made of is also much more recyclable. Plastics can only go through the recycling process a couple of times before they can no longer be melted down and reformed. At that point, whatever form they are in, usually carpeting, they are headed for the landfill.
EPI Environmental Technologies Inc. (check their website, link below)
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Spirit of Nature --- I would really like to purchase their Nappy Sacks so we could use them for my mom's clinic. I'll be ordering them soon. I'm so excited to have them, so I could put on a poster and tell/inform all of my mom's patients that we care for the environment and we are DOING something about it. They also have degradable garbage plastic bags by the way.
And FYI... (the info below is copied from about.com)
Recycling by the Numbers:
The symbol code we’re familiar with—a single digit ranging from 1 to 7 and surrounded by a triangle of arrows—was designed by The Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) in 1988 to allow consumers and recyclers to differentiate types of plastics while providing a uniform coding system for manufacturers.
The easiest and most common plastics to recycle are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) and are assigned the number 1. Examples include soda and water bottles, medicine containers, and many other common consumer product containers. Once it has been processed by a recycling facility, PETE can become fiberfill for winter coats, sleeping bags and life jackets. It can also be used to make bean bags, rope, car bumpers, tennis ball felt, combs, cassette tapes, sails for boats, furniture and, of course, other plastic bottles.
Number 2 is reserved for high-density polyethylene plastics. These include heavier containers that hold laundry detergents and bleaches as well as milk, shampoo and motor oil. Plastic labeled with the number 2 is often recycled into toys, piping, plastic lumber and rope. Like plastic designated number 1, it is widely accepted at recycling centers.
Plastics Less Commonly Recycled
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly used in plastic pipes, shower curtains, medical tubing, vinyl dashboards, and even some baby bottle nipples, gets number 3. Like numbers 4 (wrapping films, grocery and sandwich bags, and other containers made of low-density polyethylene) and 5 (polypropylene containers used in Tupperware, among other products), few municipal recycling centers will accept it due to its very low rate of recyclability.
Another Useful Plastic to Recycle
Number 6 goes on polystyrene (Styrofoam) items such as coffee cups, disposable cutlery, meat trays, packing “peanuts” and insulation. It is widely accepted because it can be reprocessed into many items, including cassette tapes and rigid foam insulation.
Hardest Plastics to Recycle
Last, but far from least, are items crafted from various combinations of the aforementioned plastics or from unique plastic formulations not commonly used. Usually imprinted with a number 7 or nothing at all, these plastics are the most difficult to recycle and, as such, are seldom collected or recycled. More ambitious consumers can feel free to return such items to the product manufacturers to avoid contributing to the local waste stream, and instead put the burden on the makers to recycle or dispose of the items properly.
I really learned a lot from this site and there are more interesting things to read about caring for the environment on this site. Like to save water and save money (on your water bill), put a brick inside your toilet water tank. Cool! Another one is... buy and use rechargeable batteries (save money, less solid waste on our dumpsites).
Enjoy reading or browsing! :)
When you do buy plastics, remember that 7 is really bad for you. I have seen and read a lot about avoiding number 3, 6, and 7 plastics. These are really bad when it comes to your food and drinks.
ReplyDeleteI avoid plastic as much as possible. Plastic is toxic to produce, hard to recycle, they aren't intended to go into the microwave and there is some evidence that the heat of the dishwasher allows them to leach into your food, they aren't considered food safe if the surface is scratched. For storage I use glass and metal, they are great for the fridge or freezer, are 100% food safe, and will last a long time.
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