those pesky plastics

ok. i don't know about you, but i get confused by all the different kinds of plastics used in food packaging... and how many of 'em are actually recyclable (sorry the chart looks sucky)...

most recycling programs accept plastics #1 through #4 (although that seems to be changing!), which include:
--soda and water bottles
--peanut butter jars
--shampoo bottles
--milk jugs
--film plastic (grocery and dry cleaning bags)
--narrow-neck bottles




most do not accept:
--cottage cheese tubs
--yogurt containers
--margarine tubs
--fast food containers
--toys
--garbage bags

while i'm not a fast-food kinda gal, and i'm not sure what kind of maroon would try to put toys in the recycling bin, i am a MAJOR consumer of cottage cheese and yogurt... so why aren't these accepted?

well, they're made of #5 plastics (aka polypropylene), which is too labor-intensive (not to mention costly) to be of interest to most companies. so does that make no. 5 plastics evil?

oddly enough, not really...

#5 plastics are durable and much lighter than other plastics, which makes them easier and more environmentally friendly to transport.

stonyfield farms has oodles of research on its site to support its choice to continue to use #5, rather than convert to more recycle-friendly #2 plastics. in addition, it encourages its consumers to send back used (but clean, please) containers to be turned into preserve products - from tableware (which i love), to razors and toothbrushes. works for me!

other companies, like nancy's have made the move to #2 plastics, but it also encourages reuse of its containers, which pretty much rocks my socks, as i'm all about reusing... you can...

--use old yogurt containers to store leftovers or to pack lunches.
--cut the bottom out of a yogurt container and place it around delicate plants to protect them in the spring.
--make your own herb garden: put hole in bottom, add large rock, soil and seed.
--store crayons or small hair clips, rubber bands and barrettes.

but if you end up with a backlog of containers, you can send them back to nancy's and the company will make sure they're recycled.

so what's the takeaway from all this? find out what your plastics your city's recycler will accept. shop smart and take an extra moment to check out what kind of packaging your food products are in... generally avoid plastic and other petroleum-based packaging... and, if one of your favvy companies (like alta dena... hint, hint) doesn't offer #2 or the option to return, write them and tell them to get on the stick!