Mail Call: Used Baby Bottles
Dear Chekhov,
I’ve been wondering if it is possible to recycle baby bottles. I have several [Avent Baby Bottles] and have no desire to reuse them in craft projects. My Google search didn’t really produce any answers, though I didn’t move beyond the first page. But I just really don’t want to throw them away.
Take care!
Robyn
Dear Robyn,
Let’s start with the material most plastic baby bottles, including the Avent ones you mentioned, are made of: polycarbonates, usually marked with the plastic recycling code #7, which also serves as a general catchall for all other plastics that don’t fit in the other categories. Polycarbonates are made with bisphenol-A (BPA), which is an endocrine disrupter that can leach from the material when they’re used. As we mentioned in a previous post on bottled water, a review of 115 published studies investigating the impact of low doses of BPA in lab animals, published in the August 2005 issue of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, discovered that 94 percent of them found “significant effects” below predicted safe or recommended doses, including alterations to brain chemistry, male and female reproductive functions, and immune systems. The review also reported that the level of plastic molecules leaching into food and beverage containers—and accumulating in our bodies and even fetal blood—was higher than previously thought, and higher than the level that caused these adverse effects in mice. According to Consumer Reports, babies using the bottles it tested could be exposed to levels of BPA 40 times higher than what was considered safe. Until we receive more-conclusive data, it’s probably a good idea to err on the side of caution.
#5 plastics are among the safest of its ilk and have not been found to leach any potential hormone disrupters such as BPA. Avoid #3 PVC plastic containers and nipples like the plague as they can leach pthalates and adipates, which have been linked to reproductive and liver damage in mice.
If you’re inheriting someone’s glass bottles, make sure to check for chips or cracks; the same with older plastic bottles that may be marred by scratches that can harbor bacteria. In fact, The Green Guide suggests inspecting bottles regularly for wear and tear, which are potential sources of contamination in formula or breast milk.
The Green Guide (subscription required) also lists some healthier bottle options, such as Rubbermaid Chuggables and Gerber Baby Bottles made from #5 plastic, as well as Lamby and Evenflo Glass Baby Bottles made from, well, glass.
To answer your question about recycling your bottles, check if your municipal recycling program takes #7 plastics. (Chances are slim, however, because #7 plastics are difficult to recycle.) If not, punch in your zip code at Earth911.org to find a drop-off point that will accept your bottles. You said you weren’t interested in craft projects, but the bottles can also be a good way to seal in and store smaller quantities of paint. Another random idea: when throwing a friend a baby shower, they’d make cute vases for tiny posies.
Never bottled up,
Chekhov
Robyn said,
September 27, 2006 at 11:38 pm
Thank you so much for answering my question. I only wish I’d known sooner. I did all this research on what was the best bottle out there, not even aware or considering that there were hidden dangers with toxins. I know this might sound silly to some, but I’m going to switch to the glass bottles, even though my daughter is about three months away from no longer needing a bottle. Knowing what I know now, it would be wrong of me not to. Thanks, Jasmin!
The Worsted Witch » Oh Baby! Natural Baby Nurseries said,
February 25, 2007 at 12:44 pm
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