PlasticFools

Source: NZ Herald,  By: Dr Michelle Dickinson Find your nearest plastic bottle or tub and turn it over. You are likely to see a number inside a triangle which corresponds to it being a recyclable product. The actual numbers run from 1-7 and describe the type of plastic that the object is made from. No 1 is PET, short for polyethylene terephthalate, and used in fizzy drinks bottles, No 5 is PP, or polypropylene, probably housing your takeaway meal. Although all plastics with these numbers - apart from No 7 - can theoretically be recycled, in fact many items such as polystyrene food trays with No 6 on the bottom must be sent to landfill because of their possible contamination with meat products.Scientists and engineers call plastics "polymers", which derives from Greek origins: "poly" means many and "mer" means parts. Plastic to us describes the way a material responds to force. If you remove the applied force and it springs back like a rubber band w...

These are the various symbols indicating different types of plastic bottles. Here's what they all mean. PET/PETE PET is the most commonly used type of plastic for consumer products, such as drink bottles and certain types of packaging. It's intended for a single use only, as repeated use can cause bacterial growth. These bottles can also release heavy metals and chemicals which cause hormonal imbalances. This is a difficult plastic to decontaminate. HDP/HDPE HDPE plastic is the stiffer plastic used in milk gallon jugs, detergent bottles, and some toys and plastic bags. HDPE releases very few chemicals, and experts recommend trying to get water bottles made of this plastic as it's the safest one. PVC/3V PVC is a flexible plastic used to make food wrapping, teething rings, toys for pets and children, and bottles of cooking oil. It releases two toxic chemicals which can potentially cause hormonal imbalances. Experts recommend finding an alternative if possible. ...