What is the number on the bottom of "your" plastic?!?

Here is yet another confusing, confusing element to recycling, as well as our health. We all want the best for our family but how do we figure out "which" plastics are the best for us??? Grab your plastic bottles/containers, turn them over and check out the arrow normally on the bottom. It will have a number from 1-7. Look at the list below and find out which ones "you" think you would stay away from. We know our answers......

• #1 PET- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE):

1. Used for- water, plastic bottles for soft drinks, juice, sports drinks, beer, mouthwash, catsup, salad dressing, shampoo bottles, detergents & peanut butter containers.
2. Profile- contains stabilizers and flame retardants, but fewer additives that leach into foods, drinks, and the ground under landfills than other plastics. These are "one-time" use bottles. It's a catch-22. You think you are helping the environment by refilling them and "saving" a bottle but you are also leaching plastic in your body every time you refill.

**Widely Recycable & a Safer Plastic**

• #2 HDPE- High Density Polyethylene (HDPE):

1. Used for- bottles for milk, water, juice, cosmetics, shampoo, dish & laundry detergents, household cleaners, plastic bags, cereal box liners.
2. Profile- safer for food than many other plastics (doesn't leach as much) and not quite as toxic to produce.

** Widely Recycable & a Safer Plastic**

• #3 PVC- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC, Vinyl):

1. Used for- plastic cling wrap, cooking oil, cleaning product, some plastic squeeze bottles, toys (this use has been banned in many countries), water pipes, phonograph records, flexible packaging for bedding, shrink wrap, deli & meet wrap.
2. Profile- Avoid these plastics at all costs. Vinyl chloride is a human carcinogen. Persistent toxic dioxins are produced during manufacture and incineration of these plastics. Common additives that leach into food include plasticizers (softeners) like phthalates and di-(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA), both considered carcinogenic. Phthalates are known hormone disrupters, and DEHA is linked to deleterious effects on the liver, kidneys, spleen, and bone formation.

**Not Recycled & A Danger!**

• #4 LDPE- Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE):

1. Used for- plastic wrap, grocery store bags, some baby bottles, coatings for paper milk cartons, toys, some squeezable bottles, bags for dry cleaning, newspapers, bread, frozen food, etc.
2. Profile- like its high-density cousin, LDPE is safer for food (it doesn't leach as much) and less toxic to produce than other plastics are.

**Not commonly Recycled & a Safer Plastic**

• #5 PP- Polypropylene (PP):

1. Used for- containers for yogurt, margarine, takeout meals, deli foods, medicine bottles, bottle caps & closures, ketchup, syrup.
2. Profile- Safer than many other plastics (it doesn't leach as much) and can withstand higher temperatures than other plastics without melting.

**Not commonly Recycled & a Safer Platstic**

• #6 PS- Polystyrene (PS):

1. Used for- food service items such as cups, plates, cutlery, hinged takeout containers, meat & poultry trays, packing peanuts, protective foam packaging for furniture, electronics, styrofoam containers
2. Profile- Styrene used to make polystrene, is highly toxic to the brain and nervous system. It is a suspected carcinogen that can leach. It may also have adverse effects on red blood cells and the liver, kidneys and stomach. Manufacture involves the carcinogen benzene, which is notorious for sticking around for eons. Steer clear of thes stuff at all costs.

** Not Recycled & a Danger!**

• #7 OTHER- Usually Polycarbonate:

1. Used for- 3 & 5 gallon reusable water bottles, citrus juice, some ketchup bottles, hard plastic baby bottles, sippy cups, sport water bottles, metal food can liners
2. Profile- This classification is for any plastic other than #1 through #6 but usually it's polycarbonate. Bisphenol A (BPA) leaches from polycarbonate plastic and mimics and disrupts estrogen, which may alter the normal functioning of the endocrine system, affect growth, puberty, and the size of reproductive organs, and decrease sperm productions. It has been found to spark prostate and breast cancer. Studies show that early-life exposure may cause genetic damage. Almost all governmental-funded studies clearly link BPA with adverse effects, including changes in hormone levels; early puberty, changes in gender-specific behavior; prostat enlargement, decreased sperm production, altered immune function and behavioral effects including hyperactivity, increased aggression and impaired learning. Industry-funded studies say it's safe. Be your own judge, but steering clear is likely safer.

**Not Recycled & a Danger!**

• #7* PLA- Polylactic acid and other bio-based plastics (biodegradable plastics made from corn, potatoes, soy, and/or wheat:

1. Used for- deli and take out food containers, cold cups, straws, cutlery, food wraps and bags
2. Profile- These are the great hope for our future health and that of the environment. nontoxic, biodegradable and made with renewable resources, bioplastics need 65% less energy to produce and generate 68% fewer greenhouse gases.

**Biodegradable & Safe**

So! Here you go and it's your decision which plastic you choose for your body. We hope you choose the safe ones!!

**This information was taken from a "fabulous" book called Easy Green Living by Renee Loux. Also from the American Chemistry Council.**

The How, What & Why's of Recycling

Let's face it. Recycling can be ridiculously confusing to figure out. It can be overwhelming and we have seen people, including us, look at a piece of trash and wonder what to do with it. Here are some tips to help you out in the process....

Let's start first with the positives of "Why" to recycle:

• Recycling an aluminum can uses only 5% of the energy required to make a new one
• Recycling glass uses 50% of the energy
• Every ton of paper recycled saves 60% of the energy, 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 380 gallons of oil, 587 pounds of air pollution, 3.06 cubic yards of landfill space and 4,077 kilowatt hours of energy
• If every household in the U.S. replaced just one package of virgin fiber napkins with 100 recycled ones, we could save 1 million trees

By not recycling here are the affects:

• A typical American throws away 4 pounds of garbage every day. In a year all of that trash adds up to nearly 3 quarters of a ton, which weighs almost as much as 8 refrigerators. Multiply that by nearly 275 million Americans and you can now start to see why this is a big issue. Sadly enough most of our trash could have been recycled.
• Junk mail costs $320 million of taxpayer's money each year to dispose of.
• Junk mail wastes 28 billion gallons of water for paper processing each year.
• Every year, 100 million trees are chopped down for junk mail sent to American homes.
• One third of trash is paper products and grass clippings & yard waste come in second. Followed by metal, glass, plastics, food scrapes and other items such as clothing, wood & rubber.
• Americans are often known as the "ultimate" consumers. The US is the source of a quarter of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, with the average of the US household generating more than 80 tons of toxic carbon dioxide gases every year- that's 22.5 tons of greenhouse gases per person, per year. In addition, the average American family uses 102,000 gallons of water and creates 3.3 tons of landfill waste every year. Can we just say......disgusting!!

Now let's talk about "What" to recycle. Recycling is actually easier than it sounds, you just need to learn the basics. Here is what cannot be recycled in your Recycling Bin......

• Soiled/used napkins & tissues
• Ceramic Stickers
• Waxed paper
• Pyrex
• Full Cans
• Milk & juice cartons
• Wet or food-stained paper/fast-food wraps
• Rubber bands
• Drink Boxes
• Laminated Paper
• Plastic with number 3,4,5,6 & 7 (see below for the website to check your local recycling programs)

Here is what can be recycled in your Recycling Bin.....

• #1 and #2 Plastic (look on the bottom of the plastic container/bottle and look at the chasing arrow for what number it is
• Aluminum (rinsed out cans)
• Tin
• Brown Glass, Clear Glass & Green Glass
• Paper
• Cardboard
• Mixed Paper
• Telephone Books
• Magazines
• Catalogs
• Computer Paper

** See below in the "How" section for directions to contact your local municipality. Every city varies in what can be recycled in the recycling bins.**

Now, let's visit the "How" of recycling. This can take a little bit of work at the beginning but once you get it down, it becomes second nature. You first want to check with your local community to see what they say can be put in your recycling bins. It's super easy. Just call 1-800-CLEANUP (253-2687) and follow the instructions with the recorded message .You plug in your zip code and they will let you know the rules of your local community.

You now know what to do with your recycling bins, so let's take a look at all of those nasty hazardous waste products you have lying around. Here is a list from our local community of what we can dispose of/recycle. Again, you want to call the 1-800-CLEANUP and they will also give you detailed information about your local hazardous waste facilities. You can also visit http://www.earth911.org/ for this information.

Hazardous Waste Dispose/Recycle

• Hand motor oil
• Used filters
• Anti-freeze
• Car batteries
• Transmission fluid
• Brake fluid
• Paint
• Cell phone
• Telephone
• Rechargeable batteries
• Single use batteries
• Flourescent light bulbs
• Medications
• Smoke detectors
• Fire extinguisher
• Pesticides
• Insecticides
• Fertilizer
• Household cleaners
• Solvents
• Degreasers
• Adhesives
• Gasoline
• Batteries
• CFL's

There it is......all of the How, What and Why's of Recycling. Make it fun and every week try and reduce the amount of waste you create and send to the landfills. You will be amazed at just the difference you alone can make!!

Fresh & Green Eco Must-Have #1: Purchase a Klean Kanteen, Sigg or some type of reusable bottle. Just make sure that it is not a #7. (In our next blog we will be discussing the good & bad plastics. What numbers to look for and what number's to stay away from.)

Klean Kanteen: http://www.freshandgreen.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=4_90&products_id=716

Sigg: http://www.freshandgreen.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=423

Fresh & Green Eco Must-Have #2: Your second eco must-have to reduce waste....Purchase reusable shopping bags.

Baggu: http://www.freshandgreen.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=6

Reduce, Recycle, Renew: http://www.freshandgreen.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=28

Produce Bags: http://www.freshandgreen.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=807

Here are our local drop-off recycling locations. Go to http://www.earth911.org/ to see where yours are!

• Bakersfield College ( At the university parking lot)
• CSUB (parking lot near gymnasium)
• Westchester Recycling Center (northwest corner of F & 30th streets)
• Valley Plaza Mall (behind rite aid drug store)
• Tevis Junior High School (on pin oak park boulevard-north of white lane, west of gosford road)
• Lowell Park (R & 4th streets, east of chester avenue)
• Fred L. Thompson Jr High School (northease corner of actis & planz roads-one block east of stine road)
• McKee School (opal street in greenfield park)
• Endeavor Elementary School (meacham road, east of calloway drive)
• Bakersfield Christian Life Center (olive drive and victor street, west of 99 freeway)

**Stastics were taken from the following books: Gorgeously Green by Sophie Uliano, True Green by Kim McKay & Jenny Bonnin & Recycling by Rhonda Donald. Also from the EPA Environmental Protection Agency.**