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Food containers - which is the less bad option?
I have a set of nice Rubbermaid food storage containers that I love, but they have BPA and are probably killing us. Rubbermaid has since come out with BPA-free versions of the same containers, and I have a coupon to get a whole set at Costco this weekend, and I really want to switch.
But then what will I do with the containers we have? If I throw them away, that's bad for the environment, and if I give them away then I'm just poisoning someone else. I suppose I could use them to store non-food items (not sure what), but I'd rather just get rid of them.
WWYD?
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Re: Food containers - which is the less bad option?
First make sure that they can't be recycled. A lot of them can be.
I would definitely switched. In fact we just did it this week, though we switched to glass as I was not aware of the new Rubbermaid ones. Actually I might still have switched to glass as it makes me more comfortable.
If you can't recycle them and don't feel comfortable donating or giving them away then repurpose them. Through all your extra buttons in one. Office supplies in another, etc.
Good luck with your switch.
I got rid of my plastic set a couple years ago. They were recycleable, so I just put them out with the recycling.
I bought a set of pyrex containers. They're same idea as the rubbermaid ones but they're glass with plastic lids. I use them to take my lunch to work, so I take the lid off and put a papertowel over the container to re-heat in the microwave (work rule - food in the microwave has to be covered and I don't want to heat the plastic lid).
http://pandce.proboards.com/index.cgi#general
1. recycle old plastic (if possible)
2. pyrex glass containers
Ditto this. I love my Pyrex! We use them for dry, fridge, and freezer storage, and for lunches.
If you're getting new ones, then I'd say Pyrex is best. That being said I live in a house with 6 adults and we use the plasticRubbermaid or Glad or whatever food containers, but they all stack in such a small space that I couldn't see switching to glass. We'd need 5x the storage space as we often cook large portions for lunches and refrigerate or freeze.
That being said I never reheat Anything in plastic. I have read quite a bit about BPA in a toxicology course and BPA mainly leaches out with acidic foods and warm/hot temperatures.
If you're wanting to replace your plastic containers, reuse them for storage of sewing or crafts or other non-edibles or dry items like flour or sugar. Or freecyce them or give to Goodwill. Some people don't have the economy to be choosy and would still be thankful for BPA containers as then they can take their lunch (which even with the BPA still might be healthier than some processed or fast foods.)