Protect your family from
harm!
Plastics Safety is
as simple as “1, 2, 4!”
#1 OK Polyethylene terephthalate (PET/ PETE) Soft drink, water, sports drink, ketchup, salad dressing,
peanut butter, pickle, jelly and jam containers. PETE is not known to leach cancer causing or hormone
disrupting hormones chemicals. Recyclable in Morris County.
#2 OK High density polyethylene (HDPE) Milk, water, juice bottles, yogurt, cereal box liners, and
grocery, trash, and retail bags. Not known to leach cancer causing or hormone disrupting chemicals.
Recyclable in Morris County.
#3 AVOID! Polyvinyl chloride (V, PVC) “Cling wrap”: PVC leaches into food, and disrupts
human hormones. The National Institutes of Health identify PVC as a “suspected” human
carcinogen because it causes tumors in mice. Not recyclable in Morris County.
#4 OK
Low density polyethylene (LDPE) Some bread and frozen food bags and squeezable bottles.
Does not leach harmful chemicals.
#5 AVOID! Polypropylene (PP) Some ketchup bottles, most yogurt and margarine tubs. Not
recyclable in Morris County; causes harmful air pollution during production.
#6 AVOID!!! Polystyrene (PS) Foam insulation, cups, some toys.
This plastic is made with
Benzene, a known human carcinogen. Other components, butadiene and styrene, are
suspected carcinogens. This plastic is also Energy intensive in production and not recyclable.
#7 USUALLY #7 is usually polycarbonate - a known hormone disruptor that leaches into food as
the product ages Baby bottles, microwavable ovenware, eating utensils, and coating inside metal
cans. Polycarbonate is
Adapted from Green Remodeling, by David Johnston and Kim Master (New Society Publishers, 2004).
REJECT_UNSAFE PLASTICS!
Use Alternatives: Glass, paper, pottery, waxed paper.
Shop for the new bio-plastics (made from plants, not petroleum.)
AVOID CLINGWRAP
Wrap meats and cheese in paper.