Plastic bottles vs aluminum cans?

[laohaire]

Our vice is drinking seltzer water. We used to buy in the big (2 liter?) plastic bottles (as opposed to the single-serve bottles or whatever), and of course put all the bottles in the recycling bin.

But I read on this forum recently that apparently plastic isn't truly recyclable? Is that true? That is, that plastic can only be turned into some post-consumer item (like filler for carpets, etc.) rather than melted down and turned into a new bottle.

Any thoughts on that? We immediately switched to the aluminum cans, though they are more expensive (and honestly promote waste of the product a bit more, since we have to drink all of the water when we open a can instead of just pouring out a glass of however much we want to drink). But we'd rather use a product that can be truly recycled.

Obviously, it'll be even better if we stop consuming this product altogether, which is certainly a possibility.

So does anyone know the deal on that?

[tracyhos]

I was just wondering the same thing! I was seriously just about to post this. Except change the seltzer water to Diet Coke. :

[greenmansions]

It is my understanding that aluminum is better because it is more easily/efficiently recycled.

Another option to consider is club soda in the little glass bottles but they are more expensive. And I'm not sure if they are still labelled on a polystyrene wrap in which case they aren't such a good option.

And some bottled bubbly waters come in glass so you might want to see what's available where you are.

[zmom]

Keep in mind that canned drinks often (if not always) contain BPA. I'm not sure if that's an issue that you are concerned with but it's an often overlooked source of BPA.

ZMom

[Periwinkle]

Originally Posted by tracyhos

I was just wondering the same thing! I was seriously just about to post this. Except change the seltzer water to Diet Coke. :

that's my girl! (see my DDDDC)

I have stopped buying my Diet Coke in cans though, since they contain BPA. Now I buy the plastic bottles.

(and before everyone kills me, this is my LAST remaining mainstream vice and "I'm working on it" )

[xekomaya]

Originally Posted by laohaire

But I read on this forum recently that apparently plastic isn't truly recyclable? Is that true? That is, that plastic can only be turned into some post-consumer item (like filler for carpets, etc.) rather than melted down and turned into a new bottle.

PET can actually be recycled into PET again. There's obviously still waste in the process, and not all companies use recycled PET back into their bottles (but I think a lot are starting with the rising oil prices - to my understanding most of those bottle "skins" companies are using use 30% less plastic & most of that is recycled)

Most other plastics are not recyclable back into the product they came from though.

[Masel]

I wonder what it would cost to rent a CO2 tank and make your own.
My DH does home brewing and when we go to festivals he'll bottle the beer in old soda canisters and make it fizzy with his own CO2. We've done this with soda too but not generally for day to day use.

You could probably get glass bottles with the attached sealable stoppers. (The brewer's wife in me wants to call them Grolsch for the beer that is sold in that style of bottle.) Set up the keg and tank and let the gas soak in. Fill a few glass bottles and keep them in the fridge.

In doing a little googling I've overlooked the whole selzer water gaget industry. LOL. I'm married to an engineer, we skipped to the big industrial tank.

[xekomaya]

Originally Posted by Masel

I wonder what it would cost to rent a CO2 tank and make your own.

I just looked into this actually ....You can get a 1liter soda syphon for 50$ and 100 charges for $50 so its not crazy expensive compared to 100 liters of seltzer. Maybe thats an idea? Seems like fun actually

[laohaire]

Update.

Last night we decided to quit seltzer. We committed to that, plus not using paper towels anymore (except for cat puke).

But it was good to know... if we buy drinks again (for guests or whatever) we'll get cans.

[MamaRBH]

Originally Posted by laohaire

Update.

Last night we decided to quit seltzer. We committed to that, plus not using paper towels anymore (except for cat puke).

Right on, Mama... best of luck in sticking to this change.

Cat puke? Ewwwww...

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by MamaRBH

Right on, Mama... best of luck in sticking to this change.

Thanks! We've been making a great deal of changes this year, and have stuck to everything we've decided to do. Recycling, reducing, conserving, using homemade alternatives to chemicals (such as laundry soap, all-purpose cleaner, and mopping solution)... DH even just ordered a fancy bicycle and is excited about being the green freak around town bicycling to the grocery store and such instead of driving. So last night's two items were just the latest

[BlessedOne]

to me recycling is recycling....whether it is a new bottle or carpet.....
I have not researched it but I do not see why they could not be made into bottles again.
Although I was told that you should not reuse certain water bottles (depending on the number<<<type of plastic)......I think it was mainly referring to dishwashing them and then resusing them.....if I recall it had something to do with a toxic chemical that would become present afterwards. But I have done it many times and it has not hurt me.
But I do not know if the two have anything to do with each other. But it would makes sense because both would be heated up. Although I can not say that I know for sure that all that is true....just what I was told.

[laohaire]

Originally Posted by BlessedOne

to me recycling is recycling....whether it is a new bottle or carpet.....
I have not researched it but I do not see why they could not be made into bottles again.

I don't really agree. In the case of cans, we can recycle over and over again. Yes, there is some loss in the process (waste, energy consumption) but at least it's a pretty good result. Plastics going into carpets is just a shame, and will never be recycled again. The carpets will just end up in the landfill in 10 or 15 years and leach chemicals, etc. Whereas the cans can keep being recycled.

[BlessedOne]

Originally Posted by laohaire

I don't really agree. In the case of cans, we can recycle over and over again. Yes, there is some loss in the process (waste, energy consumption) but at least it's a pretty good result. Plastics going into carpets is just a shame, and will never be recycled again. The carpets will just end up in the landfill in 10 or 15 years and leach chemicals, etc. Whereas the cans can keep being recycled.

actually carpet can be recycled as well.....although I know what you mean....most people probably won't recycle it......