Dr. Clark’s favorite plastic containers are made out of HDPE (high density polyethylene). Her second favorite is LDPE (low density polyethylene). She does not recommend colored plastics, only “natural” color, such as the clear plastic used for gallon milk bottles. Bags made out of polypropylene, such as Ziploc bags, are also non-polluting and very handy. These bags can safely be used as liners for liquid content stored in containers.

Plastic is ubiquitous in our lives. It’s everywhere. In fact, there is now six times more plastic than plankton floating around in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Plastic is used in contact with nearly all packaged foods. Most cardboard milk containers are now coated with plastic rather than wax. Plastic is sprayed on both commercial and organic produce to preserve its freshness. Plastic is even used to irrigate, mulch, wrap, and transport organic food. Organic bananas now come from wholesalers with a sticky plastic wrapping the cut stem to protect the bananas from a black mold. Dentists coat children’s teeth with plastic sealants that harden (polymerize) within the mouth. Food and beverages cans are coated with a BPA-containing plastic.

While it’s impossible to avoid all plastics, we must rid our diets and lives of this toxic material as much as possible.

Dr. Clark has always been ahead of the curve, while she is no longer alone in warning people about plastics, she now points out that some plastic and glassware contains potentially toxic metals. This, she points out, you can test by using a conductivity meter. Pour some distilled water into the container and measure it with the conductivity meter. If you get conductivity, it means that tiny metal ions have leached into the water.

There is plenty of information available about this subject both in books and online. Since it’s impossible to avoid the presence of plastic in our lives, it’s essential to understand the different varieties. Please check out the quick reference guide below.

HDPE (high density polyethylene)

1. Found In: Milk jugs, juice bottles; bleach, detergent and household cleaner bottles; shampoo bottles; some trash and shopping bags; motor oil bottles; butter and yogurt tubs; cereal box liners.
2. Recycling: Pick up through most curbside recycling programs, although some only allow those containers with necks.
3. Recycled Into: Laundry detergent bottles, oil bottles, pens, recycling containers, floor tile, drainage pipe, lumber, benches, doghouses, picnic tables, fencing.
4. HDPE carries low risk of leaching and is readily recyclable into many goods.

LDPE (low density polyethylene)

1. Found In: Squeezable bottles; bread, frozen food, dry cleaning and shopping bags; tote bags; clothing; furniture; carpet.
2. Recycling: LDPE is not often recycled through curbside programs, but some communities will accept it. Plastic shopping bags can be returned to many stores for recycling.
3. Recycled Into: Trash can liners and cans, compost bins, shipping envelopes, paneling, lumber, landscaping ties, floor tile.
4. Historically, LDPE has not been accepted through most American curbside recycling programs, but more and more communities are starting to accept it.