Most people know recycling is good for the environment, but reusable bags and containers can harbor germs if not properly cleaned. The document provides tips for safely reusing items like bags, water bottles, and light bulbs. It recommends washing reusable bags and bottles in hot soapy water after each use and carefully disposing of compact fluorescent light bulbs if they break due to the small amount of mercury they contain. Following the tips can help reduce waste while avoiding health risks from bacteria or chemicals.

1. Most everyone knows that recycling and reusing items
is good for the planet. It’s one of the best environmental
success stories of the late 20th century. However, it’s
important to stay healthy by identifying any risks associated
with recycling.
Paper or plastic?
This question used to be asked by grocery store clerks at
the checkout lane. Not any more. Plastic bags have gotten
a bad reputation because of increasing litter on the streets
and causing environmental concerns. Americans use
approximately 90 billion disposable plastic bags a year. To
cut down on waste, some stores charge for bags while other
stores in some cities have banned plastic bags.
As a result of the regulations on bags and store policies,
more people are bringing their own reusable bags. Whether
the bags are made of canvas, polyester or polypropylene –
these bags are sturdy and can be used over and over again.
Yet, if not properly cared for, some reusable bags may
harbor germs.
A recent study showed that when unwashed reusable bags
were stored in a hot car trunk for two hours, the bags
carried 10 times the original amount of E.coli bacteria.(1)
E.coli is a hardy bacteria that can survive on hard surfaces
for up to two weeks. Ingestion of the bacteria is usually
via food that’s been contaminated with the bacteria, which
causes food poisoning or intestinal upset.
One reason bags can get contaminated is because people
use the bags interchangeably for groceries and other items,
as well. For example, one day the bag contains meat and
produce. The next day, the user may throw in gym clothes or
school supplies. (When you think of the germs on items such
as pencils or the bottom of shoes, that’s a lot of bacteria!)
Here are some recommendations if you do use
reusable bags:
■ ■ Separate raw food and meats from produce and other
items. Put meat with dripping juice in a second plastic
bag to prevent leakage. Consider labeling and using a
separate bag for both produce and meats.
■ ■ Don’t store dirty bags in hot spaces, such as the trunk
of a car. High temperatures promote bacterial growth.
■ ■ Wash reusable cloth bags in warm water and air-dry
them. Or, for plastic type bags, use sanitizing
bleach wipes.
■ ■ Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them.
■ ■ Don’t put bags that are wet into a non-ventilated
cupboard. Moist, wet bags can harbor bacteria.
■ ■ Frequently wash any lunch bags you bring back and
forth to work, especially if transporting dirty used
containers back home.
Wash reusable bags
in between uses to
eliminate bacteria.
Reusing water bottles
When water bottles became popular in the 1990s, they were
a great alternative to high-calorie and caffeinated beverages.
In addition, in countries where water supplies are unsafe, it’s
a good way to ensure safe drinking water.
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2. Bottled water is the second largest selling beverage (behind
carbonated soft drinks). However, according to the Container
Recycling Institute, 86% of bottles end up as garbage.
So, instead of throwing out those bottles, many of us reuse
plastic water bottles or purchase refillable bottles. Great
for the environment? Yes. But often, the bottles will sit in a
hot car, waiting to be refilled and not properly washed, thus
increasing the chance of germs.
If you do reuse water bottles, make sure they’re washed with
hot soapy water, as you would any eating utensils. Because
bacteria can linger at the mouth of a bottle, use a bottle
cleaner to thoroughly clean it. Water bottles with narrow
openings shouldn’t be put in the dishwasher, because it
can’t be adequately sanitized.
In addition to bacteria, some plastic containers may contain
chemicals called BPA (bisphenol A) and phthalates, which
are used in making plastics. Company manufacturers have
been trying to phase out the use of these products because
testing on lab animals has shown they can pose a danger to
your health. The greatest danger occurs when the plastics
have been heated and the chemicals leach into the contents
in the plastic container.
Researchers have showed that exposure to these chemicals
may affect the hormones in a person’s body. Specifically it
may cause lower sperm counts, reproductive abnormalities,
early puberty or breast cancer.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) both state they don’t
consider plastics a cause for concern. However, experts
warn that you take adequate precautions when consuming
items in heated plastic.
Light bulb safety
Another green trend is to use compact fluorescent light bulbs
(CFLs). Congress passed an Energy Bill, which requires that
newly manufactured light bulbs will need to use 25% less
energy than previous models.
The new CFLs use less electricity and are made with
mercury. If a person is exposed to high amounts of mercury
vapors, it may cause neurological damage. There is no harm
if the bulb remains intact (not broken). It’s cause for concern
if the bulb breaks and the person cleaning it up is exposed to
the mercury vapors. CFL bulbs contain about 4-5 milligrams
of mercury, which is a small amount when compared to older
mercury fever thermometers, which contain 500 milligrams.
For more information
on mercury light bulb
cleanup, visit
http://www.epa.gov/cfl/.
If you do break a CFL bulb, the EPA recommends
the following:
1. Immediately open windows to reduce mercury
concentrations inside your home.
2. Shut off any air/heat or fan that circulates air throughout
the home.
3. Pregnant women, children and pets should leave the
room and not clean up the mercury.
4. Don’t touch the spilled mercury.
5. Clean up the broken CFL glass carefully with a paper
towel to remove all glass fragments and mercury.
Don’t clean it up with your hands, and don't use a
vacuum cleaner or broom. If possible, use
disposable gloves.
6. Place the paper towel and glass fragments in a sealed
plastic bag.
7. Set the bag outside until ready for disposal.
8. Bring the sealed bag to your local hazardous waste
collection site. To find a collection site in your area, visit
http://earth911.com/recycling/
In addition, the EPA recommends that CFL bulbs should not
be installed in lamps that are easily broken or knocked over,
lamps without protective shades or open light fixtures located
in children’s playrooms.
Source:
(1) http://uanews.org/pdfs/node/32521
For more information on recycling,visit:
http://www.thedailygreen.com/
http://www.epa.gov/wastes/index.htm
There’s an app for that! Learn how, where and when to recycle
just about anything with the iRecycle app.
healthy habits
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
Health Care
Reform
Vitamin D
Benefits
Health Care
Billing
Time
Matters
Arthritis
Basics
Current
Trends
Health Care
Support
Boost Your
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Going
Green
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