Have You Got the Bottle?

Plastics are a serious environmental problem. In the UK, people are constantly urged to recycle plastic bottles. A study from Brunel University, however, suggests that some recycling processes are not without their problems (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/18/recycled-plastic-bottles-leach-more-chemicals-into-drinks-review-finds). The Brunel study found 150 chemicals that leached into the drinks, contained in plastic bottles. Eighteen of these were found at levels that exceeded regulations. Some of the chemicals may have detrimental effects on human health. The study also found, however, that drinks in recycled Polyethylene Terephlate (a commonly-used plastic) bottles could have higher concentrations of chemicals, than those in 'virgin' plastic. It was concluded that the recycling process may be causing this additional contamination. The recycling process certainly needs to be looked at. Either it needs to be changed or alternative materials to make bottles found.