Living Simply, Living Franciscan

Plastics: An Environmental and Health Concern

by Mary Ellen Dunford, affiliate

Plastics have become part of everyday life. I invite you to look around your home and notice how much plastic you have and how you use it. Plastics are a modern convenience but pose serious environmental and health concerns at production, use and disposal. Plastics that are recyclable are coded with a number from 1 to 7. Plastics coded 3, 6 or 7 are the ones to be most concerned about. Production of each uses cancer-causing chemicals and can contaminate areas where they are produced. After production and during their use chemicals can continue to leech out. Their disposal, whether incinerated, recycled or put into a landfill, pollutes and contaminates air or ground and water supplies. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), coded #3, is used in some cling wraps and bottles as well as pipes and construction materials in your home. Polystyrene, coded #6, is used in foam trays, takeout containers, ice coolers, egg cartons and packing peanuts. Code #7, which includes polycarbonate and various other materials, is used in five-gallon water bottles, some baby bottles and in some liners of metal cans.

Suggestions to protect the environment and your health:
• Avoid using plastics coded 3, 6 or 7,
• Reduce your use of plastics, avoid single use items such as disposable bottles,
• Bring your own glass container for leftovers to a restaurant,
• Use cloth bags for shopping,
• Avoid plastic bottled water,
• Buy foods and liquid products in glass containers.

If you use plastics, it’s best to use those coded #1, 2, 4 or 5.