Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

smiten77 — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:36:23 GMT

I just recently purchased a "Sigg" water container, because of this information on plastics. Anyone know if there has been any testing done on these products?

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

kleanklein — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:45:22 GMT

I am as equally confused as the next greenie. I am switching everything litlle by little as budget allows to glass. What do I do for my 6 and 2 yr old boys on the go? Aluminum, Stainless Steal, a "safer plastic", which # is the best when you have to choice but plastic, and what is the next best option when glass is not. Like at little league, or the pool.

tryin' to get it all right on a budget

and be clean kleins

i would gladly except any infomation anyone has to offer.

Thanks!

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

STEPcoach — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 18:59:57 GMT

For those who aren't heavy metal affected, the steel bottles and travel cups work well - long lasting, little flavor contamination (scrub them good to get rid of it), and non-leeching.

Our non-profit parenting organization even sells the steel travel cups at www.zazzle.com/STEPcoach -if you buy from there, it supports our program and gives you good cups and shopping bags.

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

beckya — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:36:13 GMT

What about Tupperware? Does anyone know anything about it?

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

doowkrik — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:38:03 GMT

Can you explain what you mean ? you say number 4 plastics, is in bread and frozen foods ??

Coinach, Brisbane Australia

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

saynotoquacks — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:56:11 GMT

I was getting sick and tired of using disposable menstrual pads, esp. when I learned they contain dioxins. So I started making my own out of old towels and other rags. They are so much more comfortable and washing them is no problem at all. I hope more women will learn about this option. I can't believe I never thought of it before!

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

degwar — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:29:38 GMT

When are we going to learn?

Go right back to basics people.

Sure glass is good, but if you go further back in human history you find ceramics and wood were used for food storage and transport.

Ceramics can be made stronger than glass, ( tougher i.e. more elastic, and greater shock resistance ) while waxed hardwood wins hands down for strength and durability. Woven bags sealed with bees wax, animal fat or clay were used, and also gourds.

Anyone with a savvy business mind could make with these type of containers and a lot of money while providing a service to all humanity.

Food can be packaged in edible containers, and animal skins are the best clothing and water storage containers there are. I realize animal rights groups would disapprove, but we are poisoning every creature on this planet with plastic, so surely it makes sense to at least use the so called waste product from our excessive meat consumption. Cows, crocodiles, sheep, possums etc are all examples of animals that can be farmed to produce skins and food, and bone is also a great alternative to hard plastic.

We need to design products around the material, not produce materials to produce a product.

A simple brick water storage unit, and a gravity feed ceramic filter can provide drinking water from the roof of your home, and solar power is becoming a real alternative.

New Zealand ( my home ) is looking at tidal driven turbines to create power in Cook Straight, which is the channel that divides the two largest Islands.

Nauru had a tidal power station back in the early 80's which was very successful as I remember.

Profit can be made from sustainable resource, but we need to get rid of our "live in the present" mindset.

Being in a hurry is the single most damaging thing we can do when it comes to our environment.

Don't forget, the Earth is ready for a hard reset, and when it does all of our buried waste will be thrown in our faces. Literally! We are long overdue for some serious earthquakes etc.

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

Mattrock 60 — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:48:45 GMT

Many of you are using Reverse Osmosis to purify Muncipal Water. However, please be aware that they have now changed their process. Many systems now use Chloramine, a combination of Ammonia and Chlorine. This chemical is more effective in killing parasites in the water, but it does pass through the RO. To be rid of it, a loose carbon filter is required. This could be a second phase to the RO filtering.

Some of the shower filters are these carbon filters.

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

jabdip — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 05:31:49 GMT

Real change will be realized when the majority accept responsiblity for being good stewards. Here are a couple of slogans I hope will assist with this effort.

Use it up.

Wear it out.

Make it do.

Do without.

Reduce - Reuse - Recycle (in that order)

That is all. Carry on.

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

Teakvass — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:31:57 GMT

Before the reunification of Germany, East Germany had a reusable glass recycling program. It worked very well. All glass was reusable; there was almost no one-way packaging. All glass was returnable and redeemable according to its various sizes. There was less trash and less litter on the streets. There was incentive for people to make a little money by collecting glass and bringing to the collecting stations. After the reunification, the West won out, "canned" the East's program, and instituted an American style program (the one which was operating in West Germany). One-way packaging was introduced. Recycling became voluntary and optional. The end of a good thing. Glass made in various sizes to be reused is what I call recycling. Can we raise a little interest for that here?

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

m5th — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 21:08:46 GMT

I thought #5 was bad.

I was looking at a water filtration system at a show today and the counter-top model was made out of plastic that they said was a #10. I have never heard of that before. They also said that any plastic above a 7 was safe. (the numbers apparently go up to 11) Has anyone else heard of this before. I find it hard to believe since it is the low numbers that are considered safer.

thanks,

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

joeslawn — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 19:25:23 GMT

According to this article, my Aquafina bottle is PETE, which is at the top of the list, so that must be good. I refill all my Aquafina bottles and that works really well. I can even refill it at McDonalds for free becuase of the big mouth on it.

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

DizzyIzzy1 — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 18:32:05 GMT

Very helpful article; thanks for this, Doc!!

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

gscheiblich — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:57:12 GMT

I have four young girls and here is our winning formula - Sigg bottles, http://www.mysigg.com/ - Filtered water, the best I have found, http://vitasalus.com/ - and the liquid mineral formula from this same company to add minerals back in the water. Check these out, they have become tried and true in my family and I have healthy kids.

re: Do You Know What Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?

LSD — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:43:01 GMT

Shower curtains are made of PVC - When I open the package, the noxious odor is so intense it gives me a headache! That's why I hang them out in the back yard for 24 hours before installing them.

(L)SD - Dallas