The first goal of plastic packaging waste disposal is to recycle containers as a resource reuse, in order to protect limited resources and complete the recycling of packaging containers. Among them, 28 % of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles for carbonated beverages can be recycled, and PE-HD (high-density polyethylene) for milk bottles and PE-HD for soda bottles can also be recycled effectively.
In order to facilitate the recycling of a variety of post-consumer plastic products, it is necessary to sort out different kinds of plastics. Since the channels of plastic consumption are numerous and complex, and some post-consumer plastics are difficult to distinguish from each other simply by their appearance, it is desirable to indicate the material varieties on the plastic products. What are the uses and advantages and disadvantages of different designations, you ask? The following will help you figure this out:
The plastic name -------- code with the corresponding abbreviation code is shown below:
Polyester --- 01-PET ( PET bottle ) such as: mineral water bottles, carbonated Drink bottles
Drink bottles do not recycle hot water
Use: heat-resistant to 70 ℃, only suitable for warm or frozen drinks, loaded with high-temperature liquids, or heating is easy to deform, there is harmful to the human body of the material melted out. And, scientists have found that No. 1 plastic products used for 10 months, may release carcinogens DEHP, toxic to the testicles.
So, drink bottles and other used up on the throw away, do not use as a cup of water, or used to do storage containers multiply loaded with other items, so as not to cause health problems outweigh the loss.
High-density polyethylene - 02-HDPE such as: cleaning products, bath products
Cleaning is not thoroughly recommended not to recycle
Use: can be carefully cleaned and reused, but these containers are usually not good for cleaning, residue of the original cleaning products and turn into a breeding ground for bacteria, you'd better not recycle them.
Polyvinyl chloride ---- 03-PVC such as: some decorative materials
Use: This material is easy to produce harmful substances at high temperatures, and even during the manufacturing process it will release the toxic substances into the human body with food. , toxic substances with food into the human body, may cause breast cancer, birth defects in newborns and other diseases. At present, this material container has been less used for packaging food. If in use, do not expose it to heat.
Low-density polyethylene - 04-LDPE, such as: plastic wrap, plastic film, etc.
Cling film do not wrap the surface of the food into the microwave oven
Use: heat resistance is not strong, usually, qualified PE film in the case of temperatures exceeding 110 ° C will be Thermal melting phenomenon, will leave some of the human body can not decompose the plastic agent. And, wrapped in plastic wrap food heating, food oils and fats are easily dissolved out of the harmful substances in the plastic wrap. Therefore, food into the microwave oven, first to remove the wrapped plastic wrap.
Polypropylene ----- 05-PP ( can withstand temperatures of more than 100 degrees ) such as: microwave oven lunch box
Put into the microwave oven, the cover removed
Use: The only microwaveable plastic box that can be reused after careful cleaning. Special attention should be paid to the fact that some microwaveable lunch boxes are indeed made of #5 PP, but the lid is made of #1 PE, which cannot be put into the microwave oven together with the box because PE cannot withstand high temperatures. To be on the safe side, remove the lid before putting the container into the microwave.
Polystyrene ---- 06-PS ( heat 60-70 degrees, hot drinks will produce toxins, burning will release styrene ) such as: bowls of instant noodle containers, fast food boxes
Don't use Microwave cooking bowl instant noodles
Use: heat and cold resistance, but can not be put into the microwave, so as not to release chemicals due to high temperature. And can not be used to multiply strong acid (such as orange juice), strong alkaline substances, because it will decompose the polystyrene that is not good for the human body, easy to cause cancer. Therefore, you should try to avoid packing hot food in fast food containers.
Other plastics code - 07-Others e.g. water bottles, mugs, milk bottles
PC rubber releases bisphenol A when exposed to heat
Use: A material that is used a lot, especially in milk bottles, which is controversial because of the presence of BPA. City University of Hong Kong, Department of Biology and Chemistry, associate professor Lam Hon Wah, said that theoretically, as long as the production of PC in the process, BPA 100 percent into the plastic structure, it will mean that the product is completely free of bisphenol A, not to mention the release. However, if a small amount of BPA is not converted into the plastic structure of PC, it may be released into food or drinks. Therefore, it is important to be careful when using these plastic containers.
Cleaning measures against BPA:
The higher the temperature, the more and faster BPA is released from PC. Therefore, you should not use a PC water bottle to hold hot water, as this will increase the rate of release and concentration of BPA (in case it is present). If your water bottle has a number 7, the following can reduce the risk:
●Do not heat it while in use.
● Don't wash the kettle in a dishwasher or dish dryer.
● Keep the kettle out of direct sunlight.
●Wash the kettle with baking soda and warm water before using it for the first time and dry it naturally at room temperature. This is because BPA is released more during the first use than during long-term use.
●If the container has been dropped or broken in any way, it is recommended to stop using it, as plastic products can easily harbor bacteria if there are tiny pits on the surface.
● Avoid repeated use of plastic utensils that have aged.
Which PP, PE, PVC is the abbreviation of the English name. The Chinese name is polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, the full name of the English are: polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride
We commonly see some of the old slippers are made of PVC, they are soft in the summer and winter become very hard, which has a lot to do with the temperature sensitivity of the PVC. PVC is a very sensitive material that decomposes into toxic gases at high temperatures. At high temperatures will decompose toxic gases - chlorine gas. The density of PVC is the highest among the three.
Ordinary plastic bags are made of PE, its toughness is better, PE is also divided into HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and LDPE (low-density polyethylene), the density of the different, resulting in some of its performance and a big difference.
PP is the safer of the plastics, the general food on the bag is made of it, of course, PP also has a grade, packaging food must be food-grade.PP is the least dense of the three, can be floated on the water.
Like these polymer materials can generally be added to some other materials on its modification, so that in its overall performance or in a particular aspect of the performance is superior to be used for special purposes, of course, after the modification of the price will sometimes be substantially increased.
Some of the following methods can be used to detect toxic and non-toxic plastic bags:
Sensory testing method: non-toxic plastic bags are milky white, semi-transparent, or colorless transparent, flexible, lubricated, the surface seems to have wax; toxic plastic bags turbid color or yellowish, sticky feel.
Water detection method: the plastic bag in the water, and pressed into the bottom of the water, non-toxic plastic bag specific gravity is small, can float out of the water, toxic plastic bags than the major, sinking.
Shaking detection method: grasp the plastic bag by hand at one end of the shake, the crisp sound of the non-toxic; sound muffled toxic.
Fire detection method: non-toxic polyethylene plastic bags are flammable, the flame is blue, the top end of the yellow, burning like candle tears dripping, paraffin flavor, less smoke; toxic PVC plastic bags are not flammable, off the fire that is, the flame is yellow, the bottom is green, soften can pull the wire, the irritating odor of hydrochloric acid.