What Can You Do?

Making Good Choices with Plastics

There is no getting away from this truth: plastics have a long-term relationship with this planet once they are created.

Throughout history, human beings have engineered themselves out of one set of troublesome circumstances, only to find they created one or more new challenges in the process. Evolution demands continual innovation.

Today, we are required to make conscious choices about how we live, act and react in order to create and protect the environment for future generations.

Before you choose, consider some of the following facts:

Most plastic is made from oil derivatives. (If it wasn’t used for plastic, it would simply be additional waste products. However, PLA or plastic made from corn derivatives, and other plastics engineered from soy and genetically modified plant bases, are gaining popularity.)

Strangely enough, even though the vegetable-based plastics may be more biodegradable (usually takes high heat), there is no infrastructure to do so in most cities. So, believe it or not, they are more likely to hit a landfill than PET, or the common plastic used for things like plastic water bottles. Vancore Plastic Packaging is working with organizations and retailers to create expanded recycling programs that create environmentally responsible ways of dealing with plastic waste

Almost all plastic is actually recyclable. There are guidelines required on the plastic packaging to let the consumer know how to handle the plastic, once it’s been used. When you sort your plastics, as per the number below and place in the appropriate bins, the recycle companies collect it, reshape it, and supply it for other plastic uses. Unfortunately, many people don’t take the time to set aside their plastics from the rest of their daily garbage. Once you start the habit, it becomes your habit, and takes minimal effort.

(Read: Where Does the Plastic Go?)

Problems arise when the recycle company does not sort or accept various types of new plastic initiatives – such as plant based material, or when communities don’t have a program in place at all!

Here is the American Guidelines used for plastic recycle sorting.

	PET	Polyethylene terephthalate - Fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready meal trays.
	HDPE	High-density polyethylene - Bottles for milk and washing-up liquids.
	PVC	Polyvinyl chloride - Food trays, cling film, bottles for squash, mineral water and shampoo.
	LDPE	Low density polyethylene - Carrier bags and bin liners.
	PP	Polypropylene - Margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays.
	PS	Polystyrene - Yoghurt pots, foam meat or fish trays, hamburger boxes and egg cartons, vending cups, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toys.
	OTHER	Any other plastics that do not fall into any of the above categories. - An example is melamine, which is often used in plastic plates and cups.

Choose for Tomorrow

When choosing plastic packaging, favor the packaging that requires less plastic and uses types of plastics that are easily recyclable.
REUSE the plastic yourself. Find alternate uses for some of the everyday containers that you commonly use.
Bring your own bags to the grocery store – cloth or even re-used plastic bags
Don’t add a lot of extra plastic to your shopping cart. If you buy bananas, do they need a plastic bag?
Support initiatives that reuse plastic material.

Resources:

Check out some of the following resources for additional information

Stop the Plastic Ocean
Lead the Way – Set up a community recycling program
Participate At Home – Practical steps for your own plastic recycling
Waste Online - Plastics recycling information sheet