Plastic Smarts

[Obadele Kwame Kambon]

Plastic Smarts

Originally published in the Breast Cancer Fund's Strong Voices Newsletter, Winter 2005, Vol. 6. Updated September 2007.

Because the production of most plastics poses serious health risks to the environment and humans, the Breast Cancer Fund encourages you to generally avoid plastics, especially for food storage and always for cooking. Where possible, use glass or ceramic containers instead.

In particular, we strongly suggest you completely avoid the following plastic types: #3 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or V), #5 Polypropylene (PP), #6 Polystyrene (PS) and #7 Other. Here’s an overview of the various types of plastics and their associated recycling codes.

PLASTIC #1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE)
• Common uses: 2-liter soda bottles, water bottles, cooking oil bottles, peanut butter jars
• All residential recycling programs accept narrow-neck PET containers.

PLASTIC #2: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• Common uses: detergent bottles, milk and water jugs, grocery bags, yogurt cups
• All residential recycling programs accept narrow-neck HDPE containers; #2 bags can be recycled at large grocery stores.

PLASTIC #3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or V)
• Common uses: plastic pipes, outdoor furniture, shrink wrap, water bottles, liquid detergent containers
• Recycling centers rarely take #3 PVC plastic.
• PVC plastics often contain phthalates, chemicals that make the plastic soft and flexible. Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors and can affect normal hormonal processes. They have been linked to reduced testosterone levels, lowered sperm counts, early puberty in girls, genital defects in baby boys, testicular cancer and breast cancer. Look for alternatives whenever possible.

PLASTIC #4: Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
• Common uses: dry cleaning bags, produce bags, trash can liners, food storage containers
• Many residential recycling programs accept narrow-neck LDPE containers; #4 produce bags can be recycled at large grocery stores.

PLASTIC #5: Polypropylene (PP)
• Common uses: ketchup bottles, aerosol caps, drinking straws, yogurt containers
• Recycling centers rarely take #5 PP plastic. Look for alternatives whenever possible.

PLASTIC #6: Polystyrene (PS)
• Common uses: packaging pellets or Styrofoam peanuts, cups, plastic tableware, meat trays, to-go clam shell containers, egg cartons, shipping blocks
• Many shipping/packaging stores will accept polystyrene peanuts and other packaging materials for reuse. Cups, meat trays and other containers used for food are rarely accepted for recycling. Look for alternatives whenever possible.

PLASTIC #7: Other (polycarbonate)
• Common uses: 3- and 5-gallon reusable water bottles; clear, hard, reusable plastic water bottles, including Nalgene bottles
• This plastic category, as its name implies, includes any plastic other than the named #1- #6 plastic types. These containers can be several different types of plastic polymers. Most recycling centers do not take plastic #7.
• Many #7 plastics, including some Nalgene bottles and 5-gallon water delivery bottles, contain bisphenol A, a chemical that acts like estrogen in the body and may therefore increase the risk of breast cancer, among other health concerns. Look for alternatives whenever possible.