Purging Your Pantry of Bisphenol A

A reader writes the Green Guide:
So now that the media is up to par on bisphenol A (BPA), what should we do with all our polycarbonate bottles? What's the best way to dispose of them, or where should we take them to do so that they don't end up in our landfills?

The Green Guide responds:
It is very reassuring that the National Toxicology Program has finally agreed with leading scientists about the detrimental health effects of BPA, which is a major component of #7 polycarbonate (PC) water bottles and baby bottles. Their April 14th report stated that research into the effects of BPA on animals has provided enough evidence that the chemical may pose developmental, neurological and behavioral problems for fetuses, infants and children.

We've cautioned against using polycarbonate baby bottles for some time now, but if you're new to the bisphenol-A debate and you replace your plastic bottles with safer alternatives, what is the most eco-friendly way to do so? Polycarbonate, usually represented by the #7 in the recycling triangle, is not highly recyclable, so the first step is to inquire with your municipal recycler. Some cities, such as Phoenix, do accept polycarbonate. Check Earth 911 to find out where or if #7 polycarbonate can be recycled in your city.

Try not to send polycarbonate bottles to the landfill if you don't have to. If your city does not recycle #7, send your bottles back to the manufacturer; this will help increase consumer pressure to use safer plastics.

It is important to remember that not all #7 plastics are polycarbonate and therefore not all contain BPA. Polylactic Acid (PLA), a corn-based polymer that is biodegradable and increasingly used for plastic products, is also a #7 plastic. You can usually distinguish between them based on appearance: Polycarbonate is translucent and very rigid, while PLA is cloudy and more pliable. Still, if you're not sure if your #7 bottle is made of polycarbonate, check with the manufacturer.

Many plastic companies, such as the outdoor water bottle producer Nalgene, have pledged to phase out the use of plastic containing BPA, switching to a more eco-friendly copolyester, and major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Babies R Us have pledged to remove all polycarbonate baby bottles from store shelves by early next year. In the meantime, see our Baby Bottles Buying Guide for safer baby bottles and our Plastic Containers Buying Guide for BPA-free drinking bottles.