Plastics in the Sargasso Sea. Researchers knew about this... WHEN?!

It's Science Wednesday here at Fake Plastic Fish! Thanks to Wallace "J." Nichols for forwarding the following article to me. Nichols is the Founder/Co-Director of OceanRevolution.org.

Here's a summary of the article. Based on what we know about marine plastic, can you guess when it was written?

ABSTRACT Plastic particles, in concentrations averaging 3500 pieces and 290 grams per square kilometer, are widespread in the western Sargasso Sea. Pieces are brittle, apparently due to the weathering of the plasticizers, and many are in a pellet shape about 0.25 to 0.5 centimeters in diameter. the particles are surfaces for the attachment of diatoms and hydroids. Increasing production of plastics, combined with present waste-disposal practices, will undoubtedly lead to increases in the concentrations of these particles. Plastics could be a source of some of the polychlorinated biphenyls recently observed in oceanic organisms.

Did you guess? Now click here for the full article (PDF) or here for the full citation. Be sure and check out the date.

Don't have time to read the whole thing? Here's the key point:

Many plastics contain considerable concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) as plasticizers. If the plasticizers have been lost to seawater, as suggested above, the incorporation of PCB's by marine organisms is possible. Polychlorinated biphenyls have recently been observed in pelagic Sargassum and oceanic animals.

Here are a few definitions, for those who might not be familiar with all these words:

Pelagic means "Of, relating to, or living in open oceans or seas rather than waters adjacent to land or inland waters."

Sargassum are "brown algae with rounded bladders forming dense floating masses in tropical Atlantic waters as in the Sargasso Sea."

PCB's are persisten organic pollutants which bioaccumulate in animals and make their way up the food chain to poison us. Before they were banned, they were used as an additive in PVC.

Makes you want sushi, doesn't it? What each of us should be asking is, if scientists have known about the problem of plastics in the ocean for so long, why are most of us just learning about it now? My first exposure to this issue was in 2007 upon reading the article, Plastic Ocean.

When did you first hear about it?
 

Plastic Gift Cards: Re-use, Recycle, Speak Out!

I've been carrying around two plastic movie theater gift cards for over a year. Gifts from co-workers, they are much-appreciated because they represent gifts of experiences (movies) rather than more stuff. The fact that I still have them simply means I need to get out more. But the cards themselves, of course, are made from plastic. And what happens to that plastic at the end of its life? Unlike credit cards which must be destroyed for security reasons, some gift cards can keep on giving.

The Problem

Gift cards are made from PVC, one of the most toxic plastics from cradle to grave. Each year, according to Plenty Magazine, "a whopping 75 million pounds of polyvinyl chloride material from plastic cards enters America’s waste stream."

Reduce, Re-use

Several companies (Target, Borders, REI, Wal-Mart) offer biodegradable gift cards made from corn, while others provide reloadable cards, also decreasing the need for new plastic if consumers will take the time to save and reload them. Turns out that my two movie cards -- AMC Theatres and Cinemark -- are both reloadable. This is a relief because once they are used up, I'll keep them and add funds when I need a gift to give someone else.

Why buy a new card when these can spread joy and cinema magic indefinitely?

But I also have a third card, one which actually ended up in my possession just yesteraday. Hanging out in a cafe between work and an evening event, I decided to check my email. After pre-paying for time on the computer, I was handed a plastic Internet access card with unique login and password codes. This card, unfortunately, is not reloadable, I discovered today after calling the company. Not sure what material it's made from, I sent an email to the owner to ask about recycling and whether sustainability crossed their minds when developing this method of Internet payment.

Speak up

Honestly, I probably would not have thought much about this small plasticky card if it were not for the dedication of one Fake Plastic Fish reader, Sari, who emailed me several weeks ago with a dilemma which became an amazing inspirational story!

The Save-On Pharmacy where she lives had a nifty promotion. They'd give a $10 reward each time customers spent a certain amount in the store. The $10 was added to a reloadable gift card that each customer kept and used continually. But recently, the company switched to disposable gift cards. Now customers are rewarded with a brand new $10 gift card each time they spend the required amount. The old gift cards are tossed out after they are used up instead of reloaded.

Sari was incensed at this blatant waste and contacted the store manager, who told her that the company had crunched the numbers and determined that disposable gift cards were less expensive. It seems counterintuitive, but that is what she was told. So Sari emailed the store's headquarters and received similarly discouraging response. At that point, she emailed me. A quick Google Search turned up the aforementioned Plenty article, which also describes a way to recycle used gift cards.

Recycle

Earthworks System collects and recycles used disposable PVC gift cards. What's more, they recycle the cards into sheets which can be used to manufacture new gift cards. It's true recycling, rather than downcycling. While I'm not a fan of PVC, I do appreciate that Earthworks System is helping to curb the need for new PVC to be produced.

Both individuals and businesses can send in used gift cards for recycling. While the company would prefer to receive the cards in large batches (why not set up a collection at your office or school?) they will also accept cards from individuals. Mail them to:

Earthworks c/o Halprin Ind.
25840 Miles Rd.
Bedford, Oh 44146

(Note: this updated address is different from that in the Plenty article, and is based on information provided to Sari last month.)

Sari was excited about the recycling information and presented her findings to Save-On. Within a week, she emailed me again with exciting news: the store manager had contacted her back. Headquarters had decided to conduct a pilot program in her local store. The store manager wanted to meet with her to discuss the details. Since the meeting, he has offered to put a box out in the lobby area of the store as a way for local consumers to drop of any type of gift card for recycling.

This all happened within a couple of weeks because one concerned customer spoke up! Could you be the next one to inspire change?

Sari is now working on getting Starbucks and Barnes & Noble involved in the program, and she has set up a campaign on The Point to encourage others to join. Click the badge to show your support. Or simply speak up like she has. The program is already in place. All stores have to do is set up a collection bin and mail in the used cards.

To continue following Sari's efforts to get businesses to recycle gift cards, check out her blog, theviewfromsarisworld.blogspot.com.

But remember, no plastic is better than plastic recycling. Think before you purchase that plastic gift card. Save the old ones you have and reload them if possible. Look for gift cards made from biodegradable or recycled materials. Speak out against disposable gift cards. And finally, ask businesses to collect and recycle those that unfortunately are no longer usable.

What have we got to lose?
 

More sad plastic news. Plus Year 2, Week 21 Results: .05 oz of plastic waste.

The format of this post will be a little different from most of my weekly tallies because I want to emphasize three stories in the news this week which illustrate more of the problems with plastic and plastic recycling.

First: I learned from JessTrev of The Green Phone Booth (via Twitter) that one of the few plastics we had thought was fairly safe might not be so. According to Toronto's Globe and Mail on Friday, medical researchers at the University of Alberta have found chemicals leaching from polypropylene (#5 plastic), the type of plastic used for many, many food uses, including yogurt tubs and laptop lunch containers, which parents purchase as an alternative to disposable food containers for children. Preserve toothbrushes (the kind I use) are also made from recycled polypropylene.

Not enough is know at this time about the two chemicals found to leach from the plastic, quaternary ammonium biocides and oleamide, to determine whether or not the leaching poses health risks, but Rebecca Sutton, senior scientist with Environmental Working Group, says, "We simply don't want these chemicals getting into our bodies."

When asked which plastics are safe for food, I've always replied that #2, #4, and #5 are the safest as far as we know, but the fact that they haven't really been studied as thoroughly as other plastics means that we don't know for sure if they are actually safe. As it turns out, we're now even less sure. My opinion? Why store food in plastic when we can use glass and other safer alternatives?

Second: Saturday afternoon, a massive fire broke out at a plastics manufacturing plant in Channelview, Texas. View video and news coverage of the fire here. According to an article on Click2Houston.com, the plant manufactured polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products. Ironically, according to the news story, city officials claim the smoke was non-toxic.

Really? Non-toxic PVC smoke? According to Greenpeace, smoldering PVC gives off hydrogen chloride, "a corrosive, highly toxic gas that can cause skin burns and severe long-term respiratory damage," as well as dioxin, which has been found to cause cancer and reproductive disorders. How is it possible that the smoke from a burning PVC plant can be considered safe for any town?

Third: Tonight, FPF reader Christy B alerted me to a 60 Minutes story that aired today revealing a terrible reality of electronics and plastic "recycling" that will turn your stomach. You already saw the Sky News story about plastic recycling in China. This one is even worse. Watch it below or view it on the 60 Minutes site. This story illustrates why cutting our consumption and requiring manufacturers to produce less toxic, longer-lasting products is essential.


Watch CBS Videos Online

And now that you've had your fill of reasons to cut out plastic, here's my tally for the week.



All new plastic waste:

• 1 plastic envelope window. From Financial West Group, which does not yet offer electronic statements.


• 1 plastic seal from a carton of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey. This happened Tuesday night. I blame election anxiety. What a rush!

And that's it. I actually did also receive a free T-shirt in a bubble mailer with plastic tape, but I returned it to the sender after sending an email explaining why. I also received one of those plastic pizza inserts, but I'm planning to take it back to the pizzeria and ask them to reuse it. It's actually unnecessary. I usually remember to request no plastic thingie, and the pizza arrives just fine.
 

When giving literally hurts

In the spirit of last month's Giving Challenges (Burbanmom, Britt Bravo, Green L.A. Girl) I decided to give a pint a few weeks ago. Of blood, that is. What were you thinking? Guinness? I'm almost embarassed to admit that it was my very first time ever donating blood, and the only reason I even thought of it was because someone from the Red Cross cold called me and said, "We're scheduling residents of North Oakland for their blood donations, can I put you down for Wednesday at 3pm?" And I was like, "Um... no... how about Monday?"

I don't know why I hadn't thought of it before. I guess it's like how I never really worried about plastic until I saw the picture of the dead albatross a year ago. So maybe I'll become a blood-donating addict. But probably not. Because, even though my experience was very positive, and I'll certainly do it again, there are some worrisome things about the way the Red Cross collects and stores blood that are of concern for Fake Plastic Fishies.

We all know that hospitals are full of plastic. Plastic tubing and sheets and gloves and trays and bags. Plastic equipment and plastic wrappers to keep that equipment sterile. Certainly there is more plastic in hospitals than necessary, but for the most part, I kinda feel like it's there to protect us. Mostly. But some of it does actual harm, and that's what I am writing about tonight.

For years, many hospitals used IV and blood bags and tubing made from PVC, a plastic that contains phthalates like DEHP in order to make it soft. DEHP can leach from PVC medical devices and is linked to reproductive birth defects and other illnesses. (Here's a link to all you ever wanted to read about PVC/DEHP.) That's why the organization Healthcare Without Harm was formed in 1996. It's a coalition of "hospitals and health care systems, medical professionals, community groups, health-affected constituencies, labor unions, environmental and environmental health organizations and religious groups" that are working to transform our healthcare system so that it is "ecologically sustainable and no longer a source of harm to public health and the environment." The organization originated around the issue of PVC in medical waste and has gone on to (among other things) promote safer substitutes for products that contain mercury, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and brominated flame retardants.

I was happy to learn that Kaiser Permanente, my current healthcare provider, is included in Healthcare Without Harm's list of healthcare institutions doing away with PVC and DEHP. (Check the list and see if your hospital or healthcare provider is listed.) Here's what Kaiser has to say about PVC and other environmental issues on its own web site.

But notice that the Red Cross is not on that list. In fact, when I came home from donating blood, I Googled "Red Cross PVC" and couldn't really find anything about what type of blood bags and tubing they use. So, of course, I emailed them. And I found out that they do in fact use PVC bags with DEHP. Below I've copied the entire e-mail correspondence for those who are interested. Here's a list of Red Cross Blood Services Regions. Why not find yours and e-mail or call to express your concern about DEHP-containing bags and tubing?

I'm happy to donate my blood to save someone's life. Apparently, I have more than I need. But it makes me sad to think that the blood I give may be contaminated with a chemical that can be harmful to the recipient, especially if the recipient is a tiny baby. Perhaps a little DEHP won't really hurt an adult who needs a one-time transfusion in an emergency. But some people have disorders that require them to receive blood regularly. Why give them contaminated blood when DEHP-free alternatives exist?

And one last thing I have to say about giving blood, and then I'll sign off. Eat and drink a lot before you go, and take your own snacks with you. The recovery area is full of plastic-wrapped energy bars and cookies. I was happy to see that my Red Cross provided juice from a machine, rather than individual bottles, so I was able to fill up my Klean Kanteen with zero waste apple juice. But probably not all centers will have that kind of setup, so be prepared.

Okay, here are my emails to and from Johonna D. Marsh, Red Cross Compliance Manager for Northern California. Are you inspired to send your own email?

Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 23:35:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Beth Terry"
Subject: Question from donor about PVC/DEHP
To: winkenja@usa.redcross.org
Hello. I came in to the Oakland Blood Center today and donated for the very first time. It was a very positive experience, and I plan to do it again.

But I do have some questions about the equipment used at the center to draw the blood. Does the Oakland Blood Center use blood bags and tubing made from PVC plastic containing the plasticizer DEHP? I have been reading about this chemical and am concerned as it is a hormone disruptor and can leach into the blood from the plastic.

Many hospitals, including Kaiser, have given up DEHP bags and tubing. There is more information at the site, Healthcare Without Harm:

http://www.noharm.org/us/pvcDehp/issue

I searched online to find out the Red Cross's policy on PVC and DEHP, but I couldn't find anything. Can you please clarify this issue for me?

Thanks,

Beth Terry
Oakland, CA

------------------------------

MarshJ@usa.redcross.org wrote:
Dear Beth,
The American Red Cross in Northern California utilizes Baxter/Fenwal blood collection sets. I telephoned Baxter and spoke with a representative there. He indicated that Baxter does utilize PVC/DEHP in their blood collection sets.

I did some further research on the Baxter website and found this informative article about the use of PVC in blood collection sets. I hope this answers your question Beth. Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions.

Again, thank you for being a blood donor with the American Red Cross!

http://www.baxter.com/about_baxter/news_room/positions_policies/sub/pvc_position_statement.html

Sincerely,

Johonna D. Marsh
Compliance Manager, Collections

American Red Cross
Northern California Blood Services Region
6230 Claremont Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 594-5124 (p)
(510) 295-7603 (c)
(510) 601-7954 (f)
marshj@usa.redcross.org

------------------------------

From: Beth Terry
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 11:22 AM
To: Marsh, Johonna
Subject: RE: Your inquiry regarding American Red Cross Collection Sets

Thank you so much for researching this issue for me. I am happy to give blood, but I remain concerned about the PVC/DEHP issue. There are other options out there that many hospitals have switched to.

I notice that the article you linked to addresses discharges from PVC plants, which is an issue, but it doesn't directly address the issue of phthalates (DEHP) entering the blood supply. This is what concerns many hospitals, especially where infants are concerned. DEHP has been found to be a hormone disruptor and would be especially harmful in blood given to a new born.

There are DEHP-free alternatives. Healthcare without Harm has compiled a list here: http://www.noharm.org/details.cfm?type=document&id=591 and I notice that Baxter is actually on the list as offering DEHP-free PVC blood bags. I wonder if the rep you spoke to understood the difference between PVC bags with and without DEHP.

I hope that you don't mind me pursuing this issue a bit further with you. I know that you are very, very busy. But our bodies are overwhelmed these days with toxic chemicals from hundreds of sources, and so I do whatever I can to advocate for less toxic choices whenever I have the chance.

Thanks so much,
Beth Terry

------------------------------

MarshJ@usa.redcross.org wrote:
Hi Beth—
I am not too busy to look into issues such as these—I appreciate your concern! When I spoke with the Baxter representative I did specifically ask about DEHP and he had indicated that DEHP was used in the Baxter collection sets. He did not mention that there are DEHP free alternatives, but I do see from the Baxter website that there are some products advertised as DEHP free.

I am going to forward your concern to our Safety Manager as well as to the Associate Director of Collections. It is possible that we may also be able to send your concern along to Baxter. Unfortunately, at this point in time, I do not anticipate that we will be able to change the type of blood collection sets that we order from Baxter (the reasons are extensive, but long story short—we are standardized with the types of collection sets that we purchase throughout the Red Cross and we have policies and procedures in place to support the use of the collection sets that we currently use, we have contracts with Baxter for the supplies, possible cost increases, etc).

I would like to commend you for submitting your concern. At this point, even if our supply doesn’t change at least your concern is a start and helps to make people aware of this issue!

Thank you again for being such a thoughtful and caring donor! Please do not hesitate to contact me again if need be.

Sincerely,


Johonna D. Marsh
Compliance Manager, Collections

American Red Cross
Northern California Blood Services Region
6230 Claremont Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 594-5124 (p)
(510) 295-7603 (c)
(510) 601-7954 (f)
marshj@usa.redcross.org

Sounds like this issue may not go away any time soon. The more people they hear from, the better.
 

Blue Vinyl: A Toxic Love Story

I was sick as a dog this weekend and spent all day Saturday on the couch watching videos. Many readers, after reading about my purges (here and here and here) of #3 PVC containers and a MultiPure water filter system containing PVC, recommended Blue Vinyl to me. But I just never had time to sit down and watch it until I was too sick to do anything else.

Wow. Thank you to everyone who recommended this film. And for those who haven't seen it, run out NOW and get it. Rent it from Netflix, buy it directly from Docurama films, borrow it from the library or from a friend who has
it, or come over to my house and see it with me! I just ordered my own copy, as this DVD is one piece of plastic I hope to get a lot of use from. (And no! This is not a paid advertisement and I have not received any free stuff... although if anyone from Blue Vinyl is reading this, I'll be happy to take and distribute as many copies as you want to send my way!)

Watching this film gave me such hope for what we can do as individuals if we put our minds to it. It's the personal story of the filmmaker, Judith Helfand, who reveals right from the start that she's had a hysterectomy from cancer linked to drugs her mother took while pregnant. Right then, I felt I had a certain bond with this uterine-free sister woman. When her parents decide to replace the rotting wood on their house with blue vinyl siding, she begins a years-long campaign to learn as much as she can about the hazards of vinyl and finally convinces them, after they've already finished the house, to actually remove the vinyl siding and replace it with reclaimed wood.

Along the way, we travel from her home on Long Island, NY to Louisiana, where most of the PVC in the U.S. is produced and many workers and residents have been made sick; Venice, Italy, where another huge PVC plant has made workers sick; to the SF Bay Area where she searches for the least toxic building materials to replace the vinyl. Throughout the film, major points are illustrated with charming animations by Emily Hubley, who also animated another of my all-time favorite movies, the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. And Blue Vinyl is peppered with Judith's own sense of humor, as she carries her one piece of vinyl siding along with her everywhere she goes.

I call it a toxic love story because the film is not just about an environmental issue, but also about the relationship of a daughter with her parents and the push/pull that happens in families. Her story reminded me so much of myself and my own parents. How she tugs on them to change their minds, and how in the end she has to learn to let go and let them be who they are. Just the fact that they actually allowed her to pull off the siding and replace it was amazing to me, despite the ironic epilogue which I won't spoil.

When you do watch the DVD (and I just know you will because it's so great and I'm telling you to) be sure and watch the extras, including the short video about Greenpeace's non-toxic Habitat for Humanity home built in Louisiana. (It's on the second "page" of extras so you need to click "Next" to get to it.) It will leave you feeling inspired and hopeful for the future.
 

Week 23 Results: 3.5 oz of plastic

Yay! The total weight's back down again. But my plastic still doesn't fit in the palm of my hand. Maybe this week coming up?

Before I get on with the tally, here is a PVC update and a local Deal Alert:

First, the PVC update: As you know, I found four bottles in my house made from PVC a couple of weeks ago and had determined to find out if the products are still being bottled in PVC or not. The hair gels are, so I sent them back to the company with a letter. No response yet. I can't find the La Paila dulce de leche sauce in any stores around here (I think it was a close-out item at Grocery Outlet) so I've sent an e-mail to the manufacturer asking if the product is still bottled in PVC. And today, during my travels, I found Sun Luck toasted sesame seeds at Piedmont Grocery in a #5 polypropylene container. Since this company has already made the switch, I won't bother sending the container back. Instead, it goes in my hazardous waste stash (per National Geographic's Green Guide) waiting for the next time I visit our hazardous waste facility.

Local Deal: Speaking of Grocery Outlet, I was in there today looking for the dulce de leche sauce. I didn't find the sauce, but I did find a huge stack of Desert Essence calendula and lemongrass soaps wrapped in nothing more than a minimal amount of paper for 99 cents each. I can't find this soap on Desert Essence's web site, so I have a feeling it's a discontinued item. If you want to stock up on a natural plastic-free soap, now's your chance. I found these in the store on Broadway in Oakland. I don't know if other Grocery Outlets carry it or not.

And now for the week's tally:

Non-recyclable items used this week but purchased before the plastic project began:

• 7 Refresh Endura single-use eye drop containers (#4 plastic).


• Cap from a 1-oz. container of McCormick ground red pepper. Using up and consolidating my spices this week.


• Cap from a 1/2-oz. container of Trader Horn crushed red pepper.


• Plastic ring from around the neck of a glass bottle of dried basil.


• Plastic from a blister pack of Radio Shack AAA rechargeable batteries.


• Plastic Avery labels package. I took the remaining labels out so I could tally the plastic and get it out of the way.


• Plastic 5,000-ct box of Swingline staples. From now on, I'll be getting staples packaged in a cardboard box.

Recyclable items used this week but purchased before the plastic project began:

• One-oz. bottle of McCormick ground red pepper (#5 plastic). I can recycle this in San Francisco at Michael's office.


• Half-oz. bottle of Trader Horn crushed red pepper (#5 plastic). I can recycle this one at Michael's office too.

And that's all the old stuff. Now for the new plastic waste.

• Wrappers from two blocks of Loleta white cheddar.


• 1 plastic cork from a bottle of Boissonneau Chateau Moulin de Ferrand Bordeaux Blanc. I have 2 bottles left. Once they're gone, I'll try to find only bottles with natural cork stoppers.


• Plastic cap from a glass bottle of Straus organic whipping cream. Used for the Thanksgiving pumpkin soup. Mmmmmm!


• Plastic label from a bunch of fresh spearmint. Bought for my latest mouthwash experiment. More on this later.

That's it for the week.

And here's some plastic I received this week and will be sending back. Intuit automatically sent me this year's Turbotax software on CD, along with a bonus CD of financial something-or-other. But Turbotax is available for download. So I'll be returning these CDs with a note asking Intuit not to send me anymore automatic plastic through the mail.

Have you all checked out Burbanmom's web site, Going Green? She's been sending things back, too. And writing letters to the editor. Let's make this a trend!
 

Week 22 Results: 10.2 oz of plastic

We're getting a cat! Okay, I'll get on with the weekly tally. But keep in mind, we're getting a cat!

Non-recyclable items used this week but purchased before the plastic project began:

• 5 Refresh Endura single-use eye drop containers (#4 plastic).


• Cap & sprayer from a can of CHI Infra Texture Hair Spray. As I mentioned last week, I tried to make my own hairspray out of lemons and vodka, which didn't work too well. I don't need hairspray very often, but it would be nice to find an alternative.


• 1 spray pump from a spray can that had become completely corroded. The can was metal and had rusted through. Now what can I do with the plastic sprayer?


• 1 piece of clear packing tape.


• 1 broken juicer top. This plastic juicer sat atop a glass jar that is now broken. I have another juicer, so I don't need this one, although it could still be used atop any glass container. Anyone want it? I'll send it to you!


• 1 16-oz bottle and cap of Citre Shine style and shine gel (#3 plastic.) As I wrote in my Nov 13 post, #3 plastic is PVC, once of the most toxic plastics in existence. I'll be sending this half-full bottle along with the next item on the list back to the company with a note.


• 1 16-oz bottle and cap of LA Looks extra superhold styling gel (#3 plastic.) Both LA Looks and Citre Shine are made by the Henkel Corporation. I am sending both of these back to the company with a letter explaining the problems of PVC and requesting that they switch to a less toxic alternative. In my research today, I discovered that the company is putting some of its product in #1 PETE containers, but other bottles are still made from #3 PVC. More details on my findings below.


• 1 12.43-oz bottle and cap of La Paila Dulce de Leche caramel sauce (#3 plastic.) I haven't researched this one yet. If I find that the company is still selling these in PVC containers, I'll send this back with a note. Otherwise, I'll take it to the toxic waste dump the next time I go.


• 1 3.75-oz bottle and cap of Sun Luck toasted sesame seeds (#3 plastic.) Same story as the caramel sauce. Have to find out if the company is still selling these in PVC.

And that's all the old stuff. Now for the new plastic waste.

• 1 wrapper from a block of Springhill Cheese Company white cheddar.


• # 1 plastic cork from a bottle of Boissonneau Chateau Moulin de Ferrand Bordeaux Blanc. I have 3 bottles left. Once they're gone, I'll try to find only bottles with natural cork stoppers..

That's it for the week.

I went on a field trip to Long's Drugs today to find out whether Citre Shine and LA Looks styling gels are still sold in #3 PVC bottles or if the company had switched to less toxic plastic. I found some mixed results:

LA Looks: the smaller bottles, 500ml and lower, are in #1 PETE bottles; however, the larger 750ml pump bottles are still #3 PVC.

Citre Shine gel still comes in #3 PVC.

I found other brands of styling gel in #3 PVC bottles, including Long's Mega Hold styling gel, Queen Helene megahold styling gel, Dep 550ml pump (the smaller size is in #1 PETE), and La Bella 22 oz.

In the aisle of African American hair products, I found that most of the styling gels and pomades are in #5 Polypropylene containers except for the activators (Long Aid, Smooth 'n Shine, Worlds of Curls) which are in #6 polystyrene. Polystyrene is what Styrofoam is made from, but as used in these containers, it looks just like clear PETE or PVC.

So I guess the point is that if we are going to buy products in plastic containers, the least we can do is look at the number in the triangle at the bottom of the bottle to make sure we're using the least toxic alternative. Choose products packaged in #1, #2, #4, and #5 containers and avoid those in #3, #6, and #7 (unless the #7 is biodegradable.)

And finally, as I mentioned above, we're getting a cat! We finally mustered up the courage today to ask our landlord if we could have a cat, and he said yes. We're hoping to have one of these cats that our friends found in their basement and have been fostering until they are adoptable. I'm wondering if they'll actually be able to give any of them up when the time comes. If not, we'll find another kitty to adopt.

I visited Pet Food Express today to find out what kinds of cat necessities can be purchased plastic-free. (For example, there's a type of cat litter made of wheat that is flushable and comes in a paper bag.) I've requested a cat litter box on Freecycle. Any other suggestions?
 

Target, Multi-Pure, my Cupboards, and the Perils of PVC

By now, many of you have heard that after a national campaign by the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ), Target has agreed to systematically reduce its use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic (aka vinyl) in products and packaging it carries in its stores. If you haven't heard this news, you can read the full press release here. Blogger LifeLessPlastic wrote a letter to Target to show her support for this action, and I have done the same. It's always a good idea to let companies know when we appreciate the things they do. Here's a link to Target's online contact form if you'd like to send your own message.

Coincidentally, I had my own little PVC panic this past week when I discovered that the tubing used in my new Multi-Pure counter top water filter system, which I bought in place of the Brita we had been using, is made from virgin PVC.


As I wrote on October 29, I was already somewhat disenchanted with Multi-Pure because of the volume of plastic bubble wrap in which the unit and filter cartridge were wrapped. But it wasn't until the unit was installed and working that I actually read the fine print and discovered the more serious problem of PVC used in the product itself.

When I called Multi-Pure to address this issue, I was told that the tubing had been tested by NSF and found not to leach anything harmful into the water. However, the rep was unable to confirm whether phthalates such as DEHP, the chemicals that are the biggest worry, were included in the list of possible contaminants for which to be tested. But regardless of whether or not this particular tubing is leaching anything harmful into my water, I decided to send the unit back anyway.

So what's the big deal about PVC? And if the tubing's been tested and found not to leach, why send it back? Here's a rundown of the problems of PVC:

1. PVC is the only major plastic that contains chlorine, so it is unique in the hazards it creates. During production, PVC plants can release dioxins which harm workers and community members who live nearby. According to pvcinformation.org, residents of Louisiana, which is home to half the PVC production facilities in the USA, have been shown to have much higher concentrations of dioxins in their blood than the average U.S. citizen.


2. The plasticizers used to make PVC soft contain carcinogenic phthalates which can leach from the plastic, especially when used in children's toys and other products that may find their way into children's mouths. In fact, many hospitals have replaced the PVC tubing and IV and blood bags they use with less toxic alternatives.


3. According to ecocycle.org, because so many different additives are used to make PVC, recycling the plastic is extremely difficult, and any PVC bottles (#3 plastic) that make it into the recycling stream can contaminate and ruin a whole load of #1 bottles.


4. When incinerated, PVC forms dioxins, a highly toxic group of chemicals that build up in the food chain. When landfilled, PVC poses significant long-term environmental threats as chemical additives can leach into groundwater.


5. Greenpeace says that in a house fire, fire-retardant PVC will smolder for long periods of time rather than burn, "giving off hydrogen chloride gas long before visible signs of fire appear. Hydrogen chloride gas is a corrosive, highly toxic gas that can cause skin burns and severe long-term respiratory damage." For this reason, the International Association of Firefighters supports alternative materials to replace PVC.


6. In fact, according to Greenpeace's hierarchy of plastics, PVC is the very worst, even worse than Styrofoam! For a more in-depth analysis of the problems associated with PVC, please read Greenpeace's article, "The Poison Plastic."

Whether or not the tubing in the Multi-Pure system actually leaches pthalates into my water, I don't want to support the production of a material that is so harmful to humans and the environment in general. So this morning, I shipped the Multi-Pure unit back to the company.

And then tonight, after reading that PVC cannot be recycled, and realizing that I had included several #3 Act fluoride rinse bottles in my recycling in the last few months, I went through my cupboards and refrigerator to see if there were any other PVC culprits still lurking in the house. Sure enough, I found four of them:


#3 PVC bottles look very similar to clear #1 PETE bottles. In fact, many manufacturers have switched to #1 plastic as an alternative to PVC. The only way to tell is to look at the number on the bottom of the container. #3 means PVC. Unfortunately, it's not so easy to tell when other, unlabelled products are made from PVC. These can include children's toys, shower curtains, window blinds, flooring, pipes, house siding, insulation, roofing membranes, protective pipes for electricity and telecom cables, casings for electronics, refrigerator gaskets, power cords, carpets, furniture, the inside of screw caps, shoes and boots, purses and luggage, raincoats, T-shirts with plastisole prints, packing tape, vinyl records, the covering on ring binders, strollers, garden furniture, tarps, car interiors, and more.

So, what do we do with PVC that we already have? The National Geographic Green Guide article, "How To Handle Vinyl," recommends either disposing of it at a hazardous waste facility or sending it back to the manufacturer and letting them know that PVC is an unacceptable material for them to be using. For the four items I found tonight, I think I'll go on a research mission and see if these products are still being sold in #3 bottles. (Act fluoride rinse, by the way, is now contained in #1 PETE.) If the bottles are no longer #3 plastic, I'll just toss these current containers into my hazardous waste bag for later. But if the products are still being sold in PVC bottles, I'll send these back to the manufacturers with a nice note.

Now once again, I am without a water filter. What to do? Well, how about something I should have done a long, long time ago: testing the water to see if we even need a water filter in the first place! Last week I purchased a Culligan water test kit at Ace Hardware and did some preliminary home tests. Turns out, our chlorine and chloramine levels are much lower than I expected! I mailed a water sample away this morning to be tested for lead. If that test comes back okay, I think we'll drink our water unfiltered and save a whole lot of money and plastic. Imagine drinking water straight from the faucet again, just like we did as kids. What a nice idea.