This code contains polyvinyl chloride (V or Vinyl or PVC). Harms: It is the most toxic and the most harmful form of plastic. It contains bisphenol A (BPA), lead, phthalates, mercury, dioxins and cadmium.
Plastics #1 Polyethylene terephathalate (PET or PETE) & #2 HD Polyethylene (HDPE) are not only bad for our environment but can be potentially toxic to humans too, these are also known as single use plastics, and may leach when exposed to UV, heat and over time from natural breakdown.
Not widely recyclable; recommended to avoid because it can leach toxins into food and is an environmental problem throughout its lifecycle. Not widely recyclable; generally considered safe, with some precautions. #5, PP (Polypropylene) — Used in butter tubs, some baby bottles, and other rigid containers.
Biodegradable refers to the ability of materials to break down and return to nature. In order for packaging products or materials to qualify as biodegradable, they must completely break down and decompose into natural elements within a short time after disposal – typically a year or less.
Most plastics are non-biodegradable mainly because plastic is widely used because of its low cost, versatility and durability. This durability is partially based on plastic being an uncommon target for bacteria, which makes it non-biodegradable.
Despite the fact that polyethylene (PE) and Nylon 11 (NY11) can be produced from biomass or renewable resources, they are non-biodegradable. Acetyl cellulose (AcC) is either biodegradable or non-biodegradable, depending on the degree of acetylation.
Natural polymers include silk, hair, proteins and DNA, while synthetic (man-made) polymers include polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester.
#4 (LDPE—Low Density Polyethylene) is the plastic used in bags, films, and lighter plastics and is now accepted at many retail locations. Go to Earth911's fabulous recycling info site. Scroll down to find its Recycling Locator. Just type in your zip code and it will list which stores take them.
LDPE is particularly difficult to recycle because of the damage it causes to machinery in municipal recycling programs; this soft plastic gets caught in the wheels and gears and can break the machines that are running to sort bottles, cans and paper.
After individuals drop LDPE products off at a recycling center, the recycling company melts the plastic to eliminate contaminants. After putting the low density polyethylene under heat, the material is fashioned into thin plastic sheets, which the recycling company then sells to manufacturers.
Virgin LDPE resins are safe for food contact. While recycled LDPE/PP blends have been approved for food contact by the FDA on two occasions, materials made from 100% PCR LDPE resin are not cleared for food contact. LDPE has good chemical resistance, high impact strength, and strong wear absorption.
Items that cannot be recycled:
- Plastic bags or recyclables inside plastic bags.
- Takeaway coffee cups.
- Disposable nappies.
- Garden waste.
- Polystyrene (foam)
- Bubble wrap.
- Syringes or medical waste.
- Dead animals.
Together, PET and HDPE bottles make up 97 percent of the U.S. market for plastic bottles, with PP comprising 1.9 percent; low-density polyethylene (LDPE), 0.7 percent; and PVC, 0.3 percent. Together, PET and HDPE comprise 98.8 percent of bottles recycled, with PP comprising 1.1 percent, according to the associations.
LDPE is defined by a density range of 917-930 kg/m3. It is not reactive at room temperatures, except by strong oxidizing agents, and some solvents cause swelling. It can withstand temperatures of 80 °C continuously and 90 °C (194 °F) for a short time.
Unlike other polymers, HDPE and LDPE are miscible. They can be recycled together. However, to maintain their specific properties, it is better to separate them. HDPE instead has a linear structure.
LDPE is softer and more flexible than HDPE. It also has a lower melting point (115° C) and is more transparent. Compared to HDPE, it is more likely to crack under stress. HDPE is rigid and durable and offers greater chemical resistance.
Plastics could protect the natural world from the destructive forces of human need. The creation of new materials also helped free people from the social and economic constraints imposed by the scarcity of natural resources. Inexpensive celluloid made material wealth more widespread and obtainable.
Low density polyethylene is resistant to stress–cracking. Common applications for LDPE include water and chemical transportation. LDPE is to be used in outdoor applications where UV rays are a factor. Low density polyethylene has heat distortion temperature of 120°F.
Number 4 - LDPE - Low-density Polyethylene: Wrapping films, grocery bags, and sandwich bags. Note that most cities accept plastics #4 for recycling, but NOT grocery bags (these can stuck in the sorting machines). Note that most cities accept plastics #6 for recycling, but NOT styrofoam, peanuts, etc.
Five everyday waste items that take the longest to decompose
- Plastic Bags. A plastic bag can take anywhere from 500 to 1000 years to decompose in landfills.
- Plastic Bottles. A plastic water bottle can take from 70 to 450 years to decompose.
- Aluminium Cans. Aluminium cans take up to 200 years to degrade.
- Milk Cartons.
- Baby diapers.
- Separation at source.
Plastic bags typically are made from one of three basic types: high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), or linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). Those thick, glossy shopping bags from the mall are LLDPE, while grocery bags are HDPE, and garment bags from the dry cleaner are LDPE.
HDPE plastics are built to withstand extreme situations. Their strong and durable nature does not, however, convert easily into inert biomass through the process of biodegradation*. These plastics can persist for hundreds of years, sometimes indefinitely, which contributes to the growing problem of plastic pollution.
Plastic WasteNormally, plastic items can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in landfills. Even plastic bags we use in our everyday life take anywhere from 10 to 1,000 years to decompose, and plastic bottles can take 450 years or more.
Disposable cups: Dine in or takeaway in stainless steel or glass reusable cups. Single-use cutlery: Dine where they have reusable cutlery or bring your own. Disposable straws: Reusable straws in glass, stainless steel, bamboo, or silicone. Plastic lunch baggies: Reusable lunch box or beeswax wraps.
But here are some of the drawbacks: When some biodegradable plastics decompose in landfills, they produce methane gas. This is a very powerful greenhouse gas that adds to the problem of global warming. Biodegradable plastics and bioplastics don't always readily decompose.
Price of bagsCycleWood's bags are expected to cost roughly 1.5 cents per unit compared with 1.2 cents for traditional plastic bags, which could become more expensive amid rising oil prices. Other biodegradable bags — made from corn or potatoes — can cost as much as 10 times that amount, cycleWood's founders say.
Plastics that are currently marketed as “biodegradable” will themselves contribute to plastic pollution if they are lost or littered. They do not break down as quickly and completely in the environment as the term might imply and can thus harm wildlife and ecosystems.
Here are some benefits of biodegradable products: Biodegradable products break down much faster than other types of products. These types of products break down into carbon dioxide, water vapor, and organic material, which isn't harmful to the environment.
These plastics are generally not designed to degrade without special treatment, which means when leaked into the environment as litter – as demonstrated by the Plymouth study – they can be as harmful as typical plastics derived from fossil fuels.
There are various reasons why bio plastics are not in much use till now. (1) Biodegradable plastics produce methane gas on decomposition while using for landfill. Methane gas is a potential green house gas. (2) Biodegradable plastics and bioplastics do not decompose readily.
The study, Life Cycle Impacts of Plastic Packaging Compared to Substitutes In the United States and Canada: Theoretical Substitution Analysis, concluded that replacing plastic with alternative materials in packaging throughout the United States would actually increase adverse environmental impacts in several key areas.
5 Sustainable Alternatives to Plastics
- Olive Pits. Countries that produce a lot of olive oil have a byproduct that can be used for plastic: olive pits.
- Sunflower Hulls. Like olive seeds, the husks of sunflower seeds used for oil production is a waste product also being used to created bioplastics.
- Fish Waste and Algae.
- Plant Sugars.
- Mushrooms.
