The Different Kinds of Plastic Bottles

Recycling plastics benefits the health of the environment, but choosing some plastics over others can benefit the health of consumers as well. The number printed on the bottom of every plastic product is valuable information that can lead to smarter purchases.

Resin Identification Codes

• Every plastic product is labeled with a Resin Identification Code. The code is a number one through seven printed inside a recycling triangle symbol, usually on the bottom of the product. In 1988, the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., created the RIN system to assist consumers in recycling their plastic products. The codes help consumers know which plastics their recycling centers collect, and how to sort them if required.

Types

• The numbers each represent a different type of plastic, as follows:

  1: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)

  2: High-density polyethylene (HDPE)

  3: Polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC)

  4 :Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)

  5: Polypropylene (PP)

  6: Polystyrene (PS)

  7: Other - This may include products made of a combination of plastics, or a plastic not listed above.

  Disposable soft drink and water bottles are generally made from No. 1 plastic, as are most plastic food storage containers such as salad dressing and peanut butter. Other plastic water bottles are made from No. 5, and baby bottles and some reusable water bottles are made from No. 7.

Health Risks

• Plastics Nos. 1, 2, 4 and 5 are the safest choices for health reasons, although No. 1 products should not reused, as the plastic is very porous and can absorb bacteria. Products made with No. 3 contain pthalates, which have been shown to cause hormonal and reproductive disorders. Plastic No. 6, often used to make disposable coffee cups or take-out containers, can leach styrene, a possible human carcinogen, especially when heated.

  Because a No. 7 can indicate a multitude of plastics, check with a manufacturer to see what exactly the product is composed of. No. 7 PC, or polycarbonate, has been used to make baby bottles and water-cooler jugs, but it contains Bisphenol A, which has been linked to heart disease, obesity and other health problems.

Bisphenol A

• Bisphenol A, or BPA, gained significant attention from the media and consumers last year due to the exposure of potential health risks. BPA has been used as an industrial chemical for the past 50 years, and defenders of the chemical say there is no risk to humans when used as intended in consumer products. Opponents fear that scratched, damaged or reused products containing BPA can leach the chemical into food, a particular concern considering BPA is often used to make baby bottles.

  As of now, there is no legislation or regulation of BPA, so consumers must make their own choice and do their research.

Recycling

• Products with No. 2 plastic are widely recyclable. Other plastics may present more difficulties. Check with your local municipal services to see which plastics are accepted and how they need to be sorted. Some require plastics of different numbers to be separated from each other, some that plastics be separated from other materials, and some require no sorting at all.

  To reduce waste further, and reduce possible health risks, buy ceramic or glass storage containers instead of plastic ones, and a stainless steel refillable water bottle instead of plastic bottled water.