The first goal of plastic packaging waste treatment is to recycle containers as resources to protect limited resources and complete the recycling of packaging containers. Among them, 28% of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles used for carbonated drinks can be recycled, and HD-PE (high-density polyethylene) and HD-PE of milk bottles can also be effectively recycled. In order to facilitate the recycling of various types of plastic products after consumption, it is necessary to sort various types of plastic products. Because there are many and complex plastic consumption channels, it is difficult to distinguish some types of plastic products after consumption simply by appearance. Therefore, it is better to mark the material types on the plastic products. What are the uses, advantages and disadvantages of different codes? The content of SPI plastic identification scheme will be introduced below.
Plastic name — code and corresponding abbreviation code are as follows:
Polyester — 01 PET (PET bottle), such as mineral water bottle and carbonated beverage bottle. Suggestion: Do not recycle hot water in beverage bottles.
Use: It is heat-resistant to 70 ℃, and is only suitable for filling warm drinks or frozen drinks. If it is filled with high-temperature liquid or heated, it is easy to deform, and substances harmful to human body will melt out. Moreover, scientists found that after 10 months of use, No. 1 plastic may release the carcinogen DEHP, which is toxic to the testes. Therefore, when the drink bottle is used up, throw it away, and do not use it as a water cup or a storage container to carry other items, so as to avoid causing health problems.
High density polyethylene – 02 HDPE, such as cleaning products and bath products. Suggestion: It is not recommended to recycle if the cleaning is not complete.
Use: It can be reused after careful cleaning, but these containers are usually not easy to clean. The original cleaning products remain and become a hotbed of bacteria. You’d better not recycle them.
PVC — 03 PVC, such as some decorative materials
Use: This material is easy to produce harmful substances when it is hot, and even it will be released during the manufacturing process. After the toxic substances enter the human body with food, they may cause breast cancer, birth defects of newborns and other diseases. At present, containers made of this material are less used for packaging food. If it is in use, do not let it be heated.
Low density polyethylene – 04 LDPE, such as fresh-keeping film, plastic film, etc. Suggestion: Do not wrap the plastic wrap on the food surface into the microwave oven
Use: The heat resistance is not strong. Generally, the qualified PE fresh-keeping film will melt when the temperature exceeds 110 ℃, leaving some plastic agents that cannot be decomposed by the human body. In addition, if the food is wrapped with plastic wrap for heating, the oil in the food can easily dissolve the harmful substances in the plastic wrap. Therefore, when food is put into the microwave oven, the wrapped fresh-keeping film should be removed first.
Polypropylene — 05 PP (capable of withstanding temperatures above 100 ℃), such as microwave oven lunch box. Suggestion: Remove the cover when putting it into the microwave oven
Use: The only plastic box that can be put into the microwave oven can be reused after careful cleaning. Special attention should be paid to some microwave oven lunch boxes. The box body is indeed made of No. 5 PP, but the box cover is made of No. 1 PE. Since PE cannot withstand high temperature, it cannot be put into the microwave oven together with the box body. To be on the safe side, remove the cover before putting the container into the microwave oven.
Polystyrene — 06 PS (The heat resistance is 60-70 ° C, the hot drinks will produce toxins, and the styrene will be released when burning) For example: bowl packed instant noodles boxes, fast food boxes
Suggestion: Don’t use the microwave oven to cook bowls of instant noodles: it is heat-resistant and cold resistant, but can’t be put into the microwave oven to avoid releasing chemicals due to high temperature. And it can not be used for loading strong acid (such as orange juice) and strong alkaline substances, because it will decompose polystyrene which is bad for human body and easy to cause cancer. Therefore, you should try to avoid packing hot food in fast food boxes.
Other plastic codes – 07 Other such as: kettle, cup, milk bottle
Suggestion: PC glue can be used in case of heat release bisphenol A: it is a material widely used, especially in milk bottles. It is controversial because it contains bisphenol A. Lin Hanhua, an associate professor in the Department of Biology and Chemistry of City University of Hong Kong, said that theoretically, as long as BPA is converted into plastic structure 100% during the process of making PC, it means that the products have no BPA, let alone release it. However, if a small amount of bisphenol A is not converted into the plastic structure of PC, it may be released into food or drink. Therefore, it is important to be careful when using this plastic container.
Post time: Dec-16-2022