Comments on: What Do The Plastic Recycling Numbers Mean?

By: Joe Barrios

Joe Barrios — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:38:38 +0000

Definitely use glass as much as you possibly can. That’s what I do, including for my pineapple chunks. :) I’ve almost completely eliminated plastics for storage from my kitchen.

That said, based on what we currently know a #5 plastic container should be fine. As far as plastic wrap is concerned the biggest issue is microwaving it, though I’m suspicious of it touching food in general (the latter being just my own personal thing, not something based on scientific evidence.) I still use plastic wrap in the fridge if it’s going to cover a bowl and not touch the food.

By: lesley

lesley — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 15:23:56 +0000

So, I’ve been afraid to use even my #5’s for storing food in the refrigerator. For my pineapples, I placed plastic wrap in the bottom of the bowl first, but according to your article, that’s worse! :)
So, for storing in the refrigerator, I guess I can ease up on the paranoia and go ahead with the #5 bowls?
Also, for storing trail mix, we have the nuts/fruits in a plastic storage container. I was going to look for a glass jar. Is that your recommendation?

By: Lucia

Lucia — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:35:30 +0000

We ordered a food steamer. The baskets that hold the food are made from #7 plastic. Do you think would still be safe to use.

By: Lois

Lois — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:27:40 +0000

Just wondering about the effects of using lotions, and soaps out of plastic containers. I reuse plastic soap container marked 1 and refill it for traveling ease. Are the contaminents absorbed into the skin. Lots of lotions, cosmetics, etc. come in plastic containers. And for that matter what about milk? Thanks for your help

By: RL

RL — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:36:06 +0000

I’m trying to filter through all my sippy cups and discard all the “bad” ones. I’ve found that half of my sippies are #5 with and without straws (mostly chewed up) and the other half don’t even have a recycle number (and these are my most recent purchases, dec 09). What does that mean exactly? Should I be keeping or throwing away the cups without a recycle number? and should I toss the #5’s because they’ve been reused for years?

By: Joe Barrios

Joe Barrios — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:51:48 +0000

There are always unknowns, but the concern is primarily around heating it. I never, ever heat food in the microwave while it’s wrapped in any kind of plastic wrap. But I do use plastic wrap freely for things like putting stuff in the refrigerator.

By: ER

ER — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:38:44 +0000

The #3 plastics that are used to wrap food…I just wanted to be sure I understand the issue. Is it that you shouldn’t heat it ? Is it safe as a wrap? Just confused b/c most meats are wrapped in it at the stores. It’s a bit disconcerting if it shouldn’t be in contact with food at all.

By: Joe Barrios

Joe Barrios — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:27:23 +0000

Ally: I honestly never thought about straws. According to Recyclenow.org they are made of #5 plastic. #5 plastic you find in the straws or sippy cups is generally considered safe, although for children I would probably not push the envelope. I personally would discard (recycle!) these products once kids started leaving teeth marks on them, but I would otherwise keep using them.

Paras: the plastics you mention are often not recycled because they are made of plastics that are more difficult to break down and re-use. Not all plastics are the same, some are easy to break down and some are very difficult. #1 and #2 tends to be the easiest to process, although recycling programs are quickly growing to encompass the other numbers as technology advances and the process becomes easier.

By: Ally Ponte

Ally Ponte — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:31:52 +0000

Just wondering about the safety factor when children chew on plastic straws and plastic cups/sippy lids? We have some #5 drinking containers with attached straws and my little ones tend to chew on them. Should they be discarded as soon as there are marks? How about typical disposable straws?

Thanks for your time :)

By: Paras Gaba

Paras Gaba — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:37:07 +0000

This information was really helpful because was very curious about this problem but this topic doesn’t state why the recycling companies don’t recycle plastic #3-7? Can someone please tell me why they do not recycle these plastics