1. PLASTICS

2. What Do The Numbers Mean?
These numbers tell you which plastics are considered safe and which are not safe to use with foods which ones you can recycle
There are seven numbers you will find on plastic containers inside of a triangle, reflecting seven different types of plastic available in the market
The number is a resin identification code associated with the type of plastic used in the container and are found usually molded into the bottom of the plastic

3. Plastic #1 Polyethylene terephthalate PETE or PET Usually clear
Most disposable- soda & H2O bottles
Considered generally safe
Known to have porous surface…allows bacteria & flavor to accumulate
Best not to keep reusing
Picked up by most curbside recycling programs
Recycled PETE is used to make tote bags, carpet, and fiberfill material in winter clothing (Polyester)

4. Plastic #2 High density polyethylene HDPE Usually opaque
Considered safe
Low risk of leaching
Picked up by most recycling programs
Recycled HDPE is used to make plastic crates, plastic lumber, and fencing.
Items made from this plastic include containers for milk, motor oil, shampoos and conditioners, soap bottles, detergents, and bleaches.

5. Plastic #3 Polyvinyl chloride PVC Tough plastic
Not safe to cook food near
Contains chemicals that interfere with hormonal development (BPA)
Rarely accepted by recycling programs
plumbing pipes, electrical wires, and floor tiles

6. Plastic #4 Low density polyethylene LDPE Considered safe
Not often accepted by curbside recycling programs
Grocery bags, squeezable bottles, bread bags, some food wraps
Recycled LDPE is used to make garbage cans, lumber, and furniture

7. Plastic #5 Polypropylene PP Considered safe
Increasingly being accepted by curbside recycling programs
Yogurt cups, Tupperware, medicine bottles, straws, ketchup & syrup bottles
Recycled PP is used to make ice scrapers, rakes, battery cables, and similar items that need to be durable.

8. Plastic #6 Polystyrene (commonly called Styrofoam) PS
Increasing evidence indicating #6 leaches potentially toxic chemicals (carcinogens)
Disposable coffee cups, plastic food boxes, plastic cutlery, and packing peanuts are made from PS.
Difficult to recycle, most programs won’t accept it (SA accepts some types)
Recycled PS is used to make many different kinds of products including insulation, license plate frames, and rulers.

9. Plastic #7 OTHER Polycarbonate
Modern plastics from iPods to computer cases
Used in baby bottles, water bottles, compact discs, and medical storage containers.
Leachs BPA into hot beverages, bad for human hormones

10. BPA
BPA= bisphenol-A
You may recall there was a big scare recently over BPA plastic leaching chemicals into water bottles and baby feeding bottles, after studies showed that BPA mimics estrogen and interferes with hormone levels
Almost 55x the amount of BPA is released when heated or a hot liquid is put into
93% of people test positive for BPA in their system at 10x the recommended amount
Effects of BPA in the body are still not fully understood

12. Plastic Pollution
The average American throws away approximately 185 pounds of plastic per year.
50% of the plastic we use, we use just once and throw away.
Americans throw away 35 billion plastic water bottles every year
It takes 500-1,000 years for plastic to degrade.
Plastic constitutes approximately 90% of all trash floating on the ocean's surface, with 46,000 pieces of plastic per square mile.
One million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed annually from plastic in our oceans.

13. What can you do individually to stop the pollution of plastics?
Recycle anything that you can
#s 1,2,4,5, and some 6s are recyclable in San Antonio
Get a reusable water bottle
Use reusable bags at the grocery store
Use a reusable container instead of sandwich bags
Refuse single use items such as straws & cuterly
Look for alternatives to plastics

14. What can we do as a community to stop the pollution of plastics?
Voice your support on plastic policies
Trash bag bans
Micro-bead ban
Organize and take part in community clean ups
Influence local leaders about policies concerning plastics
Expanding recycling programs
Look for new ways to recycle & clean up plastics. (Be innovative)
Spread awareness