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Recycling Numbers to Avoid on Plastic Water Bottles

Each year, millions of plastic water bottles are used. Many of these plastics can leach chemicals into the contents of the bottle. In order to reduce confusion over different types of plastic, a number system is used. The recycling numbers on the bottle tell what is safe for liquids and what can and can't be recycled. Knowing the recycling numbers to avoid on plastic bottles is the best way to remember what is safe.

  1. #3 -- Polyvinyl Chloride

    • Number 3 is nicknamed "the poison plastic" for good reason. It contains dangerous toxins that can leach into the contents. PVC or Polyvinyl Chloride is what makes this plastic. Phthalates known as alkyl aryl esters of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid at low levels can be hazardous. It is used as a softener in the plastic that can interfere with hormonal development. These bottles are mostly used for cooking oils, not water.

    #6 -- Polystyrene

    • Disposable containers are made from polystyrene. They carry the number 6 on the package. Polystyrene is a type of Styrofoam that has recently been suggested to be unsafe. This plastic has been shown to release toxic chemicals as it heats up. This would make it unreliable for leaving drinking water in it all day in the sun. Another caution isthat this plastic is not accepted at most recycling facilities, so it ends up in landfills.

    #7 -- Polycarbonate and "Other"

    • Bottles with recycle no. 7 on them should be strictly avoided. It is made from polycarbonates. One of its compounds, Bisphenol A, is a xeno-estrogen, which is an endocrine disruptor. In common terms, it interrupts the hormonal messaging system in our bodies. It causes breast and uterine cancer in women and lowers testosterone in men. It can cause serious damage to developing hormonal systems in young children. Plastics bearing recycle no. 6 are the most hazardous to your health.

    #1 -- Polyethylene Terephthalate

    • The safest bottle to use is marked with recycle no. 1. Made from polyethylene terephthalate, it's biologically inert and can be digested. The trouble is, the bottle can be used only once. Repeated use increases risks of bacterial growth, which leads to leaching of toxins. It is commonly used for water bottles, but only 20 percent are recycled. Although it's safe, it's better to use reusable bottles than to fill landfills with plastic bottles.

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