Eco Green Tips

Since the plastic production is becoming an issue for the future of our planet, many people turned to recycling. However, there is still too much plastic that either cannot be recycled or carelessly ends up in a regular household trash and eventually in landfills. There, as many already know, it takes up to a thousand years to degrade. And if you think about millions of tons of plastic produced every year around the world, the amounts are staggering.

Thus, many European supermarkets turned to bioplastic packaging to replace the conventional petroleum-based plastics. Bioplastic is derived from plant starch such as corn or peas or vegetable oils. Moreover, they degrade fairly quickly in both landfills or your own compost. A perfect solution to all our problems, it seems. However, bioplastics come with a variety of issues.

First of all, it’s not too environmentally sound to create bioplastic on a large scale since it’s derived from plants. Crops must be grown to provide material for the production of bioplastics thus contributing to deforestation and food shortages. Secondly, the bioplastic packaging is virtually identical to regular plastic packaging and therefore creates a fair amount of confusion for the customers who end up not knowing whether it’s safe to recycle or to throw away. Moreover, if bioplastic product is put in the plastic recycle container it contaminates the contents, making the plastic, which would otherwise be perfectly recyclable, non-recyclable. And thirdly, the production of bioplastic increases the amount of fossil fuels burnt, which simply defeats the purpose.

Therefore, it’s a simple conclusion that companies would be better off investing in educating the public about recycling the existing plastic instead of wasting precious resources on creating even more disposable plastic, even a kind that would biodegrade fairly quickly.

photo credit: shlomp-a-plompa

While it’s true that recycling plastic is an enormous weight off the planet’s shoulders, there is still plenty of other types of plastic that simply cannot be recycled and too often end up in landfills adding to the pollution. Recently a new technology that can convert plastic back to synthetic oil has become available and it brings a fair amount of hope for the future.

A company named Solid Waste Transfer Station in Derwood, Maryland can now transfer plastic back into synthetic oil for less than $30.00 per ton (compared to other similar methods costing nearly $200.00 per ton). Similarly to crude oil, synthetic one can be used for both commercial fuels and production of various types of plastic.

The process entails converting all that plastic waste into oil in a generator by thermal cracking it in low temperature, which allows to remove the hydrocarbons (that any petroleum-based plastic contains) without using some kind of a catalyst. What is really promising is the fact that over 60% of plastic that goes into the generator is converted back into the synthetic oil.

The only hope that remains is the fact that mainstream manufactures will appreciate the possibilities this new technology offers and sooner rather than later, companies will begin using the this synthetic oil for both fuel (all these vehicles on the roads) and plastic production. Surely, it is a far better way than burning or throwing non-recyclable plastic away…

You have probably wondered many a time what these mysterious symbols on the bottom (or some other place) of a plastic containers mean. Is it simply for recycling purposes or does it also signify something related to one’s health? Which plastic is recyclable and which is not so readily accepted at your curbside recycling program? And can you recycle every type of plastic to begin with?

Here is the break-down of the most common recycling symbols found on plastics:

# 1 PET or PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)—mostly utilized in single use bottles and containers because it’s easy to recycle and inexpensive to produce. It’s found in water and soft drink bottles, mouthwash bottles, oil and salad dressing containers, peanut butter containers and some food trays. This type of plastic is always recyclable and is recycled into polar fleece, furniture, fabric, tote bags, carpet paneling and sometimes into other plastic containers.

# 2 HDPE (high density polyethylene)—most adaptable and therefore used in a variety of products, such as mils jugs, juice bottles, bleach, detergent and other cleaner containers, shampoo bottles, yoghurt and butter tubs, motor oil containers, some trash and shopping bags and cereal box liners. This type of plastic is easily recyclable and is recycled into other plastic containers, e.g. laundry detergent and oil bottles, pens, floor tile, recycling containers, pipes, benches, fencing, picnic tables etc.

# 3 PVC (polyvinyl chlorine)—durable and withstands harsh conditions so it’s used in products such as piping, siding, clear food packaging, wire jacketing, medical equipment, windows, etc. It isn’t easy to recycle but when recycled it makes paneling, decks, speed bumps, mud flaps, roadway gutters, mats, flooring, cables, etc. PVC contains chlorine so its production releases dioxins, which are known human carcinogens.

#4 LDPE (low density polyethylene)—found in squeezable bottles, frozen food bags, dry cleaning and shopping bags, clothing, furniture and carpets. It isn’t commonly received at your curb recycling programs but more communities begin to accept it. It is normally recycled into trash can liners, paneling, shipping envelopes, compost bins, floor tiles etc.

# 5 PP (polypropylene)—has a high melting point so it is present in containers used for hot liquids. It’s found in some yoghurt containers, ketchup and syrup bottles, medicine bottles, caps and straws. It is becoming increasingly acceptable at your local recycling programs and is recycled into products such as signal lights, battery cables, brooms, brushes, auto battery cases, ice scrapers, landscape borders, bicycle racks, rakes, bins, pallets and trays.

# 6 PS (polystyrene)—made into rigid or foam items (Styrofoam) and known for leeching toxins into food or liquids. It is also difficult to recycle therefore not many places will accept it, although that is slowly changing. When recycled it is made into egg cartons, vents, rulers, foam packaging, insulation, light switch plates and carry-out containers. 

# 7 Plastics—a number of various plastic resins that don’t fit in any of the previous categories are all put into # 7. Some of them include plastics containing the known hormone disruptor and human carcinogen BPA. This type of plastic is found in 3- and 5-gallon water bottles, sunglasses, beverage mugs, DVDs, iPod and computer cases, signs and displays, nylon and certain food containers. These plastics have not been recycled until recently and are made into custom-made products and plastic lumber.

Millions of women use nylon pantyhose every day around the world and nearly as many pairs end up in the garbage as soon as they rip (which happens fairly quickly), adding to the waste we accumulate. However, there are many (perhaps not 1001 but quite a few) ways nylon can be recycled and here are some tips for reusing this oh-so-common material:

1. Put potpourri in the nylon stocking or a cut-off pantyhose leg, tie it and put in the dryer for a great smelling load of laundry.

2. Put some kitty litter or baking soda in the stocking, tie it off and use for a shoe deodorant and odor killer.

3. Rolling the nylon into a ball can serve as a gentle cleaning sponge for tubs and sinks.

4. If you have an itchy wool sweater, you can line the inside of the sleeves with the legs of the pantyhose; it will prevent the irritating effect of the wool on your skin.

5. Use nylon for straining lumpy paint or other liquids.

6. Nylon can be used as a vegetable or fruit net or for tying plants to a stake.

7. Putting leftover pieces of soap into a stocking or a cut-off leg of pantyhose will get you some more use of the soap.

8. Use a stocking as a scent packet for your draws, closets or bathrooms by filling it with your favorite potpourri, cinnamon or lavender.

9. Stuffing a part of the pantyhose leg and tying it off makes a great toy for your kids or pets.

10. Nylon is also great for polishing floors, shoes or furniture.

11. You can use nylon pieces instead of cotton balls to remove nail polish.

12. To keep your hair brush clean, place a piece of nylon over the bristles and push down. Use as normal and when the rush gets dirty, remove the nylon layer and replace with a new one.

There are many more uses for nylon stockings and ripped pantyhose and your own creativity is the limit here. So next time you have some nylon you would otherwise throw away, think about other ways you can use it.

There always seem to be an excess of empty medicine bottles in nearly every household these days. And while most of the pharmacies use #1 plastic for their bottles, some unfortunately use the types of plastic that are not recyclable.

So what can you do with all these bottles lying around your house, waiting for you to come up with some use for them? Well, here are a few tips for creative ways of recycling medicine bottles:

1. Glue several bottles together and spray-paint the creation with your favorite color. Use it as a storage system for all the tiny knick knacks on your desk.

2. Place your loose change in the prescription bottle and use in your purse, car or anywhere you may need it.

3. Consider donating clean empty bottles to vet clinics, animal shelters, free clinics or homeless shelters for reuse.

4. Make a toy for your cat or dog by putting some dry beans or rice in the bottle and closing it tight. It will roll and make the rattling noise pets enjoy.

5. Use when traveling for holding liquids, such as shampoo or lotion. These bottles are perfect since they close tight and don’t spill. Just remember to label them.

6. Use for storing small items such as buttons, beads etc.

7. Use to store plastic bags in your purse for when you may need one.

8. For the artsy types, you can use the bottles for the paint if you happen to buy it in bulk, that way you can use a small amount of paint at a time.

There are many more ways one can recycle the prescription bottles and your own creation is the limit here. However, make sure that you take off the labels and shred them so nobody will get your personal information and clean and sanitize the bottles so you can reuse them safely.