Single-use plastics, microplastics, and plastic that will never get recycled fill our air, water, and shelves. Here's why it matters... and what you can do.
Ever stood in the supermarket wondering if you—or the planet—would be better off if you bought milk in a glass bottle rather than a carton or plastic jug? Or whether it should be a plastic, Styrofoam, or cardboard carton for eggs? Or a can or carton for soup? All packaging decisions involve a tradeoff. Here’s what to consider.
Newspapers, milk jugs, glass bottles, aluminum or tin cans. Most people know that those items can be recycled. But what else should go in your curbside bin? Which items can cause damage if you mistakenly toss them in? And what are the odds that your “recyclable” plastic will get recycled? Here’s the low-down.
These resin codes are typical for these types of containers. (Check yours.) They identify the type of plastic the product is made of. Just don't assume that a resin code means that a container will get recycled. Most plastic ends up in a landfill. Plastics are numbered 1 through 7, but there are really only recycling markets for 1 and 2. Some communities have markets for 5, but very few.
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that can interfere with estrogen, testosterone, thyroid hormone, insulin, or other hormones. At very low levels, they can turn on, shut off, or alter the signals that the hormones send throughout our bodies. And that can spell trouble.
