Polywood outdoor furniture is attractive, durable and easy to maintain and is becoming more popular than regular light plastic furniture

Plastic versus Polywood: don’t know the difference? Well keep reading.

Plastic outdoor patio furniture

Plastic outdoor patio furniture that so many of us are accustomed to seeing at the local home improvement store or even at the local super market is lightweight.

It goes swimming every time the wind blows and is easily broken. You will find plastic outdoor furniture only available in white or green that I have seen. Did I mention that quite often it needs to be replaced every year due to the chalky film that develops after a couple of months in the hot sun?

Poly outdoor furniture

Poly outdoor furniture, on the other hand, is a High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic which is made from recycled milk jugs, bottles and containers. The HDPE plastic is then formed into typical wood profiles that will later be cut, drilled and screwed into sustainable outdoor furniture, decking, and a variety of commercial uses that are built to last a lifetime. Poly outdoor furniture is weighty and will withstand the north wind blowing as the lightest adirondack chair is weighing in at about forty pounds.

There are now several poly lumber furniture manufacturers taking the outdoor patio furniture market by storm.

The company on the leading edge is Poly-Wood outdoor furniture which is a name brand for recycled poly lumber furniture. PolyWood outdoor furniture may cost you more initially however is a far wiser investment when you consider the longevity of the outdoor furniture and the virtually maintenance free qualities.

Poly-Wood outdoor furniture is backed by a manufacturers warranty which promises that it will not rust, split or splinter. PolyWood outdoor furniture uses commercial grade stainless steel with an additional ‘Xylan’ protective and cosmetic coating. All these features intentionally planned to create sustainable outdoor furniture built to last a lifetime.

Poly-Wood outdoor furniture is available in a wide variety of styles from the timeless Nautical collection to the Long Island and South Beach Collections, to the stylish Chippendale Collection and let me not forget the Adirondack Collection.

Adirondack

All of these collections will handsomely complement any outdoor environment. You will find the classic Adirondack chair in several styles and a minimum of six traditional colors and six bright, vivid colors. Also, you can find Traditional Benches, Rockers, Gliders, Dining and Bistro Tables, Dining Chairs and Bistro Chairs and Swings all made out of sustainable PolyWood outdoor furniture.

New styles and collections are being added each year. New this year is the Rockford Collection which features a high back vertical slat design available in three different size benches a Dining Side Chair and a Dining Arm Chair. Also, taking the market by storm is the Presidential Rocker Series the Jefferson Rocker and the Kennedy Rocker. Both available in the polywood we have come to trust.

In the end you need to decide whether you are interested in sustainable PolyWood heavy duty outdoor furniture for a lifetime of enjoyment that will withstand high winds and blazing sun. Or you can go with lightweight plastic furniture that will blow in the breeze, chalk and crack after a few years of use and then be tossed aside to further fill our overflowing landfills.

By Donna Reed. Donna Reed is an active environmentalist associated with Green Peace and the Sierra Club. Her focus on environmental issues has turned to the recycling industry and products that are made from recycled plastics. Polywood and Polywood Products save millions of pounds of plastic from landing in our ever growing landfills each year and have caught her eye with their environmentally friendly advantages! Donna is currently working with Premium Poly Patios to help make the public aware of the environmental benefits of this Eco-Friendly Furniture.

Article Source: ArticleSnatch Free Article Directory

Check out these opther blog posts on recycled plastic furniture…

Polywood Patio Furniture

There has been a large surge in interest for patio furniture in the last few years. We are all trying to get a little bit more back to nature.

Recycled wood furniture

PolyWood Terrace Furniture offers these consumers an earth-friendly alternative to conventional area furnishings. PolyWood, a Dominating Denseness Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, is made from 100% recycled materials such as bottles 

Polywood wood-plastic patio furniture

Anyone looking for outdoor garden furniture should seriously consider polywood patio furniture. the fef quality of poly wood garden furniture is second to none. it is extremely durable and is becoming extremely popular.

Technorati Tags: Adirondack, bottles, collection, furniture, garden, outdoor, patio, plastic, Poly-Wood, recycled

In times of emergency we may realize that clean water is of prime importance

Then we start to look for places or containers to store it. It is here that we must be careful what we use.

How Not to Store Water

In an emergency survival situation, you may be tempted to store water in any available container.

However, when you can, plan for emergency water storage, your water storage options can be better defined. Let’s start with what not to store water in:

• Containers that can’t be sealed tightly
• Containers that can break, such as glass bottles
• Containers that have ever held any toxic substance
• Plastic milk cartons or bottles
• Hard plastic bottles made with polycarbonate plastics and identified by the #7 recycling symbol
• Used pre-packaged water bottles

Any containers that can not be sealed tightly are not a good choice for water storage as contaminants may easily enter the container. While glass bottles are easily cleaned and may seal well, their breakability and weight make them to be less desirable for emergency water storage use.

Obviously, you would not intentionally store water in any container that previously held a toxic substance. Such substances can not be adequately cleaned from the walls of the container. If you don’t know what was in a particular container – it should not be used. The biggest problem with plastic milk cartons is their inability to be resealed, plus they are difficult to clean and break down over time.

We now know that hard plastic bottles made with polycarbonate plastics and identified by the #7 recycling symbol, may leach BPA (Bisphenol A) and should not be used for water storage. The type of plastic bottle in which water is usually sold is generally a #1, and is recommended for one time use only. Do not refill these pre-packaged water bottles.

It is plastics made with BPA, used for example for baby bottles and plastic dishes that are used in the microwave that need to be avoided

Not all plastics are harmful however so it is a good idea to become aware of which ones are safe

Protect your world by making a plan for your home, business and school.

Choose the right emergency preparedness supplies

Safe plastics

• PET plastics: examples include some soft drink, water and sports  bottles and jam jars.They are not known to leach any toxic chemicals

• High density polyethylene or HDPE for short and Polypropylene are plastic containers used for water, juice, ketchup and milk bottles, margarine and yoghurt tubs, rubbish bags and grocery shopping bags.There is no evidence of these containers leaching any cancer causing chemicals

• Low-density polyethylene  such as frozen food bags is not known to leach any chemicals that are suspected of causing cancer

How to Store Water

Refill your emergency water storage container with tap water. You should dump and refill each container every 6 months to keep it fresh.

TIP: Using a garden hose to fill containers from an exterior hose bib can result in water that has a distinct plastic or rubbery taste. Instead, try using a potable water hose found at most RV service centers.

All public water supplies are already treated and should be free of harmful bacteria. However, as an additional precaution, it is recommended that you add 5-7 drops, about 1/8 teaspoon, of chlorine bleach per gallon of water stored. This precaution protects you against any lingering organisms in storage containers that may have been inadvertently missed during the cleaning process.

Water preserver Concentrate

You may also extend the storage life of your water by using a product called Water Preserver™ Concentrate.

This is a liquid additive that disinfects, preserves and extends the safe storage life of emergency drinking water. Water Preserver™ provides 5-year storage guaranteed for regular tap water or commercial bottled water. Water Preserver™ kills and prevents the re-growth of Coliform bacteria and other disease-causing microorganisms for 5 years, when used as directed. Water Preserver™ kills the pathogenic organisms responsible for typhoid, dysentery and other serious diseases, and also kills and prevents growth of yeast, mold, fungi and algae which also make water undrinkable.

Do not store your emergency water supply in the attic due to the potential for excessive floor loading (water weighs 8.3 lb/gallon) and leakage. Don’t stack containers over 2 high and secure them from falling over, especially in earthquake zones.

If possible, store emergency water in a cool dark place. To increase the shelf-life of water stored in translucent containers, group the containers together in dark plastic bags to keep out the light.

Store your water supply away from gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, or similar substances that give off vapors.

Recommended Water Storage Containers

Plastic water bottles are very convenient for carrying water around when we are on the go, as they don’t break if we drop them. However, it is worth paying attention to the type of plastic your water bottle is made of, to ensure that the chemicals in the plastic do not leach into the water. To be certain that you are choosing a bottle that does not leach chemicals, check the recycling symbol on the bottle. If it has a #1, #2 HDPE (high density polyethylene), a #4 LDPE (low density polyethylene), or a #5 PP (polypropylene), your bottle is fine.

Survival quantities of water can be purchased in small single-use packages including juice boxes and pouches. Such water is packaged with a 5 year shelf-life as approved by the U. S. Coast Guard. Larger quantities of water may be stored safely in approved containers such as 2 gallon plastic bags, 5 gallon containers or 55 gallon barrels. A key consideration with larger containers is the inability to move them or carry them very far once they are full.

Cleaning Water Storage Containers

Assuming you are using an approved storage container as noted above, follow the steps below to clean your container.

Step 1: Drain all water from your emergency storage container. Keep in mind, you do not have to throw this water away, it can be used to water plants, the lawn, or even give the dog a bath.

Step 2: Mix dish washing soap and clean water and pour into your storage container. Agitate the container so that the soap and water mixture hits all of the cracks and crevices and internal surfaces including the cap or pour spout.

Step 3: Thoroughly rinse your water storage container several times with clean tap water to remove any soap residue.

Step 4: Mix a solution of 4 cups water and 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach (with 5.25% – 6% sodium hypochlorite as an active ingredient) for every gallon of water your storage container holds.

WARNING: Do not use scented or “color safe” bleach products. Liquid bleach loses strength over time. If the bleach is a year old, double the amount to 2 tablespoons. Two year old bleach should not be used. Bleach should be stored out of direct sunlight and away from heat to avoid deterioration.

Step 5: Pour the bleach solution into the container and close the top of the container and shake it, roll it and swish the solution around in the container until it has been well rinsed Allow the solution to sit in the bottom of the container for at least thirty minutes. This solution will clean several containers.

Step 6: Open the container and pour the solution into the next container, assuming it is the same size. Repeat the rinsing action described in Step 5. When done, dispose of the bleach solution in a load of white laundry in your washing machine.

Step 7: Thoroughly rinse the container(s) several times with clean tap water. If any algae or discoloration is visible, do not reuse the container.

Dangers of Water Storage

If water is stored improperly (in heat, lid not tight, outside air comes in contact with the water, etc.), or if the freshness/expiration date is exceeded, the water may become contaminated.

Vapors from gasoline, kerosene, pesticides, paint or similar substances can permeate Polyethylene plastic containers (water, milk, and bleach bottles) and affect the water quality. Thick-walled polyethylene containers are significantly less permeable to such vapors.

Stored water may eventually develop a disagreeable appearance, taste, or odor. A lot of times people will refer to stored water “tasting flat.” This condition can generally be resolved by pouring the water from one container to another, back and forth about three or four times to aerate the water.

Public water agencies don’t chemically treat drinking water with the intent of keeping it preserved forever. While Chloramine is a good preservative, public drinking water is not designed to have a long shelf-life. When you pour water into a container, don’t assume it will last forever.

Author: Jim Serre

Copyright © 2009 GetReadyGear.com

Jim Serre has over 30 years of engineering, safety and corporate training experience. He is an Office of Emergency Services qualified Search & Rescue Unit member in two northern California counties. He has provided Emergency Training to thousands of citizens in neighborhoods, businesses and faith-based groups and is a certified instructor for FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team training. His knowledge of survival and preparedness skills make him uniquely qualified to design emergency kits that can save your life. For more emergency preparedness information see his website at www.getreadygear.com.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_780467_27.html

Protect your world by making a plan for your home, business and school.

Choose the right emergency preparedness supplies

Technorati Tags: bottles, buy, clear, container, containers, drink, drinking, empty, plastic, refilling, storage, used, water

Plastic water containers and glass bottles are a convenience we can continue to benefit from if we simply take good care of our environment by making sure we recycle everything.

With a little understanding of the issues involved, we can re-use or recycle most of the masses amount of waste we produce from plastic and glass and at the same time we can reduce costs, save energy, protect the environment and even create new jobs. Although waste awareness is on the increase, recycling rates are on the low side and many people are still unaware of just why recycling is so important.

Recycling Plastic Waste

According to Recoup (the UK’s leading authority on plastics waste management), every household uses approximately 373 plastic bottles a year of which 29 are recycled and yet recycling just one of these plastic bottles can save enough energy to light a 60 watt bulb for up to 6 hours. So why are we not recycling more plastic?

One of the main issues regarding the recycling of plastic is lack of opportunity to recycle. This is partly because plastic can be contaminated with other materials and the cost of processing this can outweigh the cost of producing more plastic so compared to other materials like glass and paper, there are fewer places to recycle plastic. However, plastic is lightweight and highly versatile and one way round this is to re-use plastic within the home.

There are many different types of plastic but most plastics fall into one of the following main types:

PET (Polyethylene terphthalate) – Fizzy drinks bottles and trays for convenience foods to put straight into the oven

HDPE (High density polyethylene) – Milk bottles and washing up liquid bottles

PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) – Cling film, juice and water bottles, shampoo bottles

LDPE (Low density polyethylene) – Plastic bags

PP (Polypropylene) – Margarine tubs and microwavable meal containers

PS (Polystyrene) – Egg cartons, plastic cutlery and cups, yoghurt pots, meat and fish foam trays

Plastics are largely used for packaging and because they have a relatively short life span (they tend to be thrown away as soon as their contents are used), they represent a major waste problem. They are also generally non-degradable which means they can take a long time to decompose and break down. Landfill sites require more and more space due to the amount of plastic being disposed of and this is an area of concern, particularly as around 80% of plastic is disposed of in landfill sites with less than 10% currently being recycled (Environment Agency Report 2001).

Solutions are constantly being sought and although more and more supermarket chains and retailers are now issuing biodegradable plastic bags, this in itself can be a problem as many people might think that it is ok to just throw them away as they will eventually break down, which is not always the case. Some of these biodegradable bags rely on sunlight to break them down so if they are thrown away as part of household rubbish and end up in a landfill site, they will not degrade because there is no light.

What you can do to help…

Re-use plastic bags as much as possible – don’t throw them away

Buy products with very little packaging

Try to re-use plastic pots and tubs within the home, for example to store small items like buttons and screws and for germinating seeds or donate them to playgroups and schools for arts and crafts

Buy refillable products as much as possible

When purchasing fruit and vegetables at the supermarket, don’t put them into plastic bags – it isn’t necessary

Find out what plastic re-cycling facilities there are in your own area and use them, encourage your family and friends to do the same

Try to buy products made from plastic that has been recycled

Recycling Glass Waste

Glass is an inert substance and so is not directly harmful to the environment but it is not degradable either so if sent to a landfill site it will stay there indefinitely which is a real shame because glass is such an easy and very useful material which can be recycled over and over again without any loss to quality.

Recycling glass is easy for the consumer, particularly as the number of bottle banks and roadside collections of glass are increasing. By far the most common use for glass within the home is in the form of bottles and jars and this makes up around 80% of recycled glass.

When recycling your glass containers, bottle banks often require the glass to be separated according to colour, which in itself can be a barrier to recycling as the consumer has to put in a little more effort, but there are reasons for this. As you can imagine, it would be a mammoth not to mention expensive task to separate every bit of coloured from clear broken glass before processing so there are few facilities that can currently do this, which is why it is so important to separate them beforehand.

One of the issues with recycling glass in the UK is that the UK produces a large amount of clear glass and yet the amount of clear “cullet” produced (cullet is basically a collection of broken glass) is low in comparison to the amount of green cullet. One reason for this is that a lot of green bottles (wine for example) are imported leading to a surplus of green cullet and at the same time a lot of clear glass is exported in the form of spirits. Another is that a lot of people are still not recycling clear glass containers other than bottles and this reduces the amount of clear glass cullet available. However, on a positive note, mixed coloured glass waste can be used for the building of roads and in the construction industry so it is important to recycle ALL glass containers.

Contaminants like metal rings, paper labels, plastic etc. must be identified and removed from the glass before the glass can be turned into new containers and much of this is done using equipment like metal detectors, vacuums, crushers and also by plain old manual inspection.

What you can do to help…

Re use bottles and jars within the home

Where possible, return jars and bottles (milk bottles for example)

Before recycling glass rinse out all bottles and jars and remove any tops and metal rings etc. as these can damage the furnaces used to recycle the glass

Recycle all glass containers not just drinks bottles, this can include jars, medicine bottles, glass food containers and so on

Make sure when placing glass into a bottle bank that you put the right colour in the right bank

Making a difference

Surveys have shown that if recycling was made easier, more people would be willing to recycle. The fact is, it doesn’t take a lot of effort or time to recycle or re-use an item, only a little initiative, and yet it is one way we can be sure of making a real difference to the environment and the world in which we live.

Author: David McEvoy  Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_McEvoy

For more information about waste removal and skip hire please come and visit our site skip hire preston

Start Recycling

Who hasn’t heard that recycling is one of the best ways to protect the environment? There are all sorts of benefits to recycling. Creating aluminum from ore requires 95% more energy than recycling aluminum. 

The benefits of recycling glass Recycling Ideas

While we are often told to recycle as much class as possible there are some rather startling and worrying statistics for many of us to consider.

Primary School goes eco-friendly

Pupils now realise some of the long term benefits of recycling such as a reduction in the need for landfill, the reduction of pressure on natural resources, the increase of exports and reduction of imports, a reduction in pollution.

Technorati Tags: bags, benefits of r, bottles, facts, glass recycling, how does glass recycling effect the environment, how does plastics recycling work, plastic, plastics, recycling, structural plastic recycling bins

How do you decide which type of reusable bottle you should use? The advantages and disadvantages of seven types of plastic, aluminum and stainless steel bottles will be compared to help you make an informed choice.

Features related to health, performance, environmental impact, and cost will be evaluated. Environmental impact will be assessed by considering the durability of the bottles and whether they are recyclable. The resin code (type of plastic) is identifiable by the number within the triangular symbol on the bottoms of plastic bottles.

Plastic #1

Most disposable water bottles are made of plastic #1 or PET. Some people try to reduce their plastic waste by washing them out and reusing them, but bottles made out of plastic #1 are not reusable.

A Canadian study found that 13% of the water bottles tested in an elementary school had bacterial levels (9% were found to have fecal coliforms) exceeding drinking water quality guidelines by the end of the school day. Bottles made of plastic #1 are not durable enough to withstand use, cleaning, and reuse without losing their integrity.

The compelling issue with these bottles is not whether they leach unwanted chemicals into the water, but that bacteria cannot be easily washed out of them. Long storage time on the shelf or in a warm garage or trunk does increase the likelihood of bacterial growth and may cause antimony to leach from the plastic. Contrary to urban legend, freezing bottled water does not increase the likelihood of leaching. These bottles are recyclable everywhere, and they should be recycled after a single use.

Plastic #3, #6, and #7

There are numerous reports that plastics #3, #6, and #7 leach unhealthful substances into drinks. Plastic #3 (PVC) leaches phthalates which have been shown to cause developmental and reproductive damage. Plastic #6 (polystyrene) leaches styrene which can cause nervous system effects and liver damage. Polycarbonate, one type of plastic #7 (other assorted types) from which the clear, brightly colored bottles are sometimes made, has been shown to leach Bisphenol A (BPA), a hormone disruptor that mimics estrogen.

Plastic #7 (polycarbonate only) is controversial. Two groups of technical experts studied it and came to differing conclusions. They agreed that BPA leaches into drinks at low levels, but one group said the levels were too low to cause any concern, and one group said that the levels were significant to human health. Polycarbonate has been banned by the Canadian government and is being re-reviewed by the USEPA.

There is a new type of plastic #7 that is BPA-free; whether it leaches other substances, not currently known to be hazardous, is yet to be seen. None of these three types of plastic is widely recyclable. Plastic #7 is durable, but like most plastic, will wear more quickly if exposed to heat in the dishwasher. Bottles made from plastic #7 cost between $8 and $12.

Plastics #2, #4, and #5

Plastics #2, #4, and #5 are the healthiest plastic bottle options since they are not known to leach. These plastic bottles do retain odors and stains and after repeated use, tend to leak if not held upright. This lack of durability makes them a poor choice for long term use, and they will not hold up well in the dishwasher.

Plastic #2 is commonly recyclable, but plastics #4 and 5 are not recyclable in many municipalities. Bottles made of these plastics are inexpensive, ranging from $5 to $10.

Aluminum

Aluminum bottles are lightweight and hip looking, and they keep drinks cooler longer and fresh tasting. Because aluminum is reactive with acidic liquids, aluminum bottles have to be lined with an enamel or epoxy layer that could become a problem with wear and tear. They are durable, but if you drop them, they may dent which may affect the efficacy of the liner within. The most popular aluminum bottles have very narrow necks making them difficult to clean, dry, and load with ice. They are not dishwasher safe. Aluminum bottles with certain types of lining are not recyclable. Aluminum bottles cost between $10 and $30.

Stainless Steel

Food-grade stainless steel bottles are lightweight and hip looking, and they keep drinks cooler longer and fresh tasting. There are no known safety issues; stainless steel is non-reactive so the bottles do not leach and do not have to be lined. Stainless steel water bottles are the best choice health-wise.

They are durable and can last for years, but if you drop them, they may dent. They are dishwasher safe, but will only get clean and dry if the opening is wide enough for easy water and air circulation. Stainless steel is recyclable in all communities that recycle. Stainless steel bottles cost between $10 and $30.

Recommendation

Stainless steel bottles are the best water bottles, but ANY reusable bottle, no matter where it comes from or what it is made of, is better for the planet than the manufacturing and shipping of disposable plastic bottles. Stainless steel bottles make a safe choice health-wise and have the best performance features. They also have a low long term impact on the environment because they are durable and are widely and cost effectively recycled.

A stainless steel bottle will easily pay for itself because it won’t need to be replaced for years. If you fill it up with tap water, rather than spending 17 to 75 cents for each disposable bottle of water in the grocery store, it will only take 2 weeks to 6 months to break even on your investment. So go out and get yourself a stainless steel bottle and fill it with tap water, filtered if you want, and know that you are consuming the healthiest, most cost-effective, and carbon-conscious drink under the sun.

Author: Lydia Chambers

The author, Lydia Chambers, is co-founder of Back2Tap, a social business that educates people about the wastefulness of disposable plastic bottles and bags and sells stainless steel bottles and fair-trade organic cotton bags through direct sales and through group fundraising online and in bulk. Graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Colorado, Lydia is a certified professional geologist who worked for Shell and Exxon in oil field development and contaminated site assessment and remediation. She has lead grassroots environmental campaigns to raise awareness about lawn pesticides, car idling, and bottled water. Currently, Lydia serves on her municipal Planning Board and Open Space Committee. Read more at: http://www.back2tap.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lydia_Chambers

Plastic: Practical or Problematic?

Concern that heat and cold might release certain chemicals within the plastic that seep into the contained and cause cancer. So are our water bottles safe, or not? While conclusions regarding the dangers of the soft … As far as the effects of heating and freezing are concerned, it is important to investigate safety precautions regarding plastic.

How to keep ice cold in the desert.

Freeze plastic bottles of water or canned drinks that are not carbonated, such as Hansen’s fruit juices. The frozen drinks will act as ice and will keep the other items in your cooler colder. You can also freeze water or other …  

Plastic Water Bottle Safety and Dioxin Myths and Truths

One of the email myths is that we get dioxin poisoning from drinking bottled water. The truth is that dioxin isn’t a major problem in plastics. There are very little if any dioxins in plastic water bottles. In addition, freezing actually works … If you heat up plastics and water bottles, you could increase the leaching of phthalates from the containers into water and food. Containers labeled “microwave safe” should have less leaching than other… 

Technorati Tags: bottles, composition, drink, drinking, pet in plastics, pet plastic, plastic, ratings, stainless steel, water

Drinking water filters are becoming increasingly popular, due in part to recent news reports about drugs and hormones in tap water, along with everything else that’s in there. But, if you currently drink bottled water, there are other good reasons to  buy an at-home drinking water filter.

News agencies throughout the United States and Canada have been raising questions about the safety and purity of bottled water since the year 2000. But it appears that consumers are not paying much attention. The sale of bottled water since that time has grown exponentially, from millions of gallons in 2000 to billions of gallons in 2006.

The economical and environmental impact of all of those bottles is huge. Scientists and environment experts from around the world are recommending drinking water filters as a less expensive, safer and more environmentally friendly alternative.

First of all, the fact is that most bottled water comes from a tap. A major bottled water company was recently required to remove the words “spring water” from its label, replacing the words with “purified drinking water”.

In other words,  with a good drinking water filter, you can make your own “bottled” water at home.

It costs less, tastes better and you can be confident in the purity.

It has been estimated that 80% of the plastic bottles used for water end up in the landfills, most of which are reaching capacity. If we do not stop throwing away all of those bottles, we are going to have to find new places to put our trash.

Some of the companies that sell drinking water filters also sell reusable glass bottles. You fill them up from your own faucet, with its new drinking water filter. When they are empty, you pop them in the dishwasher. When they’re clean, you fill them up again. The glass bottles typically come in packages of six, so you can store a six pack in the fridge and everyone will have fresh, chilled, pure drinking water.

Another problem with the plastic bottles is that it takes water to make them, six times the water that is in the bottle. It also takes oil to make them. The Pacific Institute estimates that in 2006, the production of plastic bottles for drinking water required 17 million barrels of oil.

Manufacturing the bottles produces carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming, further threatening our water supply. Additional carbon dioxide is released by the trucks, trains and ships used to transport the bottles from the manufacturer to the marketplace.

You can help by switching from bottled water to  a drinking water filter for your home . You might think that you alone cannot make a difference, but the estimate is that each of us is drinking about 22.6 gallons of water out of plastic bottles per year.

Since it takes water to make the bottles, each of us could save 135 gallons for the planet by switching. The bottom line is that drinking water filters protect the health of your family, while protecting and saving our natural resources. So, buy a good system and drink up.

By: Laurel Tevolitz

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Laurel Tevolitz is a dedicated researcher of critical issues that affect health and well-being.

Visit her water purification blog now at www.safewaterpurifier.com/pristinewater.htm to discover which water purification system she recommends after extensive research.

Choosing a water filtration system

ADVANTAGES. Cheap; Removes bacteria and other micro-organisms effectively. DISADVANTAGES. Concentrates metals; does not remove. fluoride; chlorine; metals; sediment. Related Tips Tap, bottled or filtered? Remineralize your water …  

Which water is best?

“The bottled water essentially was free of chlorine and fluoride,” said Rice. The filtered water doesn’t have any chlorine but does have almost the same amount of fluoride as the unfiltered tap water. 

Is this water corked?

Lets face it, most people don’t fef change their filters often enough as they are so expensive, so they are kidding themselves as to the quality of the “filtered” water. Consider also the number of those filters going to landfill. … Yes, it contains chlorine, but the most worrying additive is Fluoride. Flouride is industrial waste from the aluminium industry, one of the most toxic and reactive substances known, and is added to our water supply as a result …

Filtered Water Or tap Water? (Or Water On The Brain! A Short Video)

Technorati Tags: bottle, bottled, bottles, containers, coolers, dispenser, filtered water, plastic, purpose of, water

Here’s a really simple way to have pure, great tasting water wherever you go. It’s quite simple when you think about it, to have drinking water containers with their own built-in filter.

You are probably aware of the dangers of our drinking water, with over 2000 toxins being found in tap water in a recent study by the highly respected Ralph Nader Study Group. I’m serious, over 2000! This makes a serious case for using drinking water containers on the go.

This includes herbicides and pesticides and many other from industry and farming that seep into our water tables and into our water.

Home water filters

These can create long term health problems and you have probably heard many stories of water related disease outbreaks, which in some cases has lead to serious illnesses and even death.

We live in a highly industrialized society, with new chemicals being used and invented all the time, and the water companies simply can’t afford to make all our water safe as only a fraction of it is used for drinking.

Thus the case for new types of drinking water containers is an important one to consider. Just imagine being able to fill up wherever you are, and have the peace of mind that you are getting chemical free, great tasting water.
Traditional drinking water containers offer no protection against toxins and many are even made from cheap plastic which can add its own problems.

The new revolutionary drinking water container will not be your cheapest option but it’s well worth it. The high quality bottle will filter out around 99% of all contaminants, but still leave you with the valuable trace minerals, like calcium and magnesium.

In todays hectic and on the go society many of us turn to bottled water and pay a hefty premium for doing so. Bottled water is more expensive per gallon than gas! And by the way, it is no safer than your tap water and has less and sometimes no regulation applied to its quality.

And here’s another alarming fact. We Americans throw away over sixty million plastic bottles a day. If more and more people filled up at home by using a drinking water container we could substantially reduce this appalling figure, and be environmentally friendly at the same time.

Some food for thought there (or water for thought!), which I hope will inspire you a little to stop using bottled water and to fill up your own, wherever you find yourself, with pure, healthy, great tasting water as it should be.

By: Ray Hamilton

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Ray Hamilton is a dedicated advocate and researcher of the incredible benefits of safe, clean, healthy water. Take a moment to visit his site now and discover which products Ray recommends after extensive research: www.healthy-filtered-water.com/

Kitchen And Housewares: PUR CRF-950Z 2 Stage Water Pitcher

If you’ve decided you need a home water purifier, the next step is to decide what type of contaminants you want to filter out or protect against. Are you concerned about bacteria and other microorganisms? Do you want to remove chemicals and compounds such as … Of the three most common water purification technologies, UV is the only one that effectively immobilizes bacteria. However, it does not remove sediments, chemicals and other contaminants. 

How Healthy Are You?  Water Softening For Safe Drinking Water

Boiling water before you drink it does kill the germs, but your body in that case does not benefit from the soluble minerals that are found in the water when it’s distilled. There are many ways in which … The zeolite component in the water filter cartridges helps to purify or soften the water. In tropical countries there is great need for water softening for prevention of water borne diseases which continue to wreck …

Inhaling Chlorine & Is Your Shower Water Safe?

Do I really need a shower filter? What can shower filters really remove? How do shower filters work? Take a minute to learn more about the dangers of chlorine in the shower and what shower filters can and can’t take out of your water. 

Technorati Tags: bottle, bottles, environment, filter, filtered, plastic, water

Plastic water containers are also plastic milk containers. They are handy for holding and managing liquids and if you use plastic in preference to glass make sure it is bpa free.

There are three types of baby bottles available: glass, plastic and plastic with disposable plastic liners. Glass bottles are very durable but they are a little heavier to use and they are breakable.

Plastic bottles are also very sturdy and are more lightweight. Bottles with liners are convenient since the liners don’t need to be sterilized but they can also be expensive to use. Some plastic bottles are shaped at an angle to minimize the amount of air the baby takes in her stomach when feeding.

You can choose several styles of nipples in either rubber or silicone. You should buy new nipples every three months. As your baby gets older, buy nipples with larger holes.

Most babies are content with formula that is at room temperature. If your baby prefers warmed-up formula, heat the bottle (with the formula already in it) by running it under hot water from the faucet.

This way you can ensure the liquid is not too hot and you can frequently check the temperature by shaking some formula on your wrist. Give the baby water from time to time too.

Don’t microwave formula because the liquid heats unevenly. Even though the bottle may be cool to your touch, the liquid inside could be burning hot and scald your baby’s throat.

Feeding time is usually an enjoyable experience for the person feeding the baby and the baby. Cuddling with your baby is important and feeding time is the perfect opportunity to get in some skin-to-skin contact. When your baby is about halfway finished drinking the formula in the bottle, take a break and burp her to release any gas that may be accumulating in her tummy.

Plastic milk containers, i.e your baby bottle, come in all shapes and sizes and colors .

A general rule of thumb when using a baby bottle is to burp your baby after every 2 ounces eaten.

If you forget to do this, your baby will wake up from her restful sleep crying due to the need to burp.

By: Nicholas Tan

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Gerber Nurser Clear View Reusable Feeding Bottle

Ensures smooth flow and helps prevent nipple collapse. Product Description 

Glass Baby Bottles

Are we going back in time? Well, yes and no. While the debate goes on about the safety of polycarbonate bottles and whether BPA-free.  

Cleaning Sippy Cups

Microwave sterilizers and stovetop sterilizers, the same ones you might have had for baby bottles, can also be used to the same end. If you can’t wash a sippy cup right after it was used, rinse out the lid and valve to remove most of the milk residue to make cleaning easier. … So right now I’m using and washing the disposable types of sippy cup, and being extra vigilant to keep them the right way up in the car and checking under the couch for any stray cups.

BPA Free Baby Bottles and More

Used in “cloudy” plastic containers such as baby bottles.  Used in disposable cups and Styrofoam. Usually polycarbonate. Commonly used in most plastic baby bottles, clear plastic sippy cups and water bottles. 

Technorati Tags: baby, bottle, bottles, bpa free, disposable, feed, glass, liquid, milk, plastic, sterilize, storage

Though plastic is a very useful material that is flexible, robust and rigid they become waste after their use and they pollute the atmosphere. To protect the environment as well as to take advantage of plastic, recycling procedure is used…

Plastic is a very common material that is now widely used by everybody in this world. Plastic is used in many ways as it is light weight and compact. The maintenance that is required is very less. Common plastic items that are used are bags, bottles, containers and food packages. Whenever you buy grocery, food or any other item from any store you will use plastic bags for carrying them.

The plastic material has many advantages. They are especially very useful for packaging foods as the plastic items are durable, safe and cheap. The ease of use of plastic items has made plastic a great success. The great problem with plastic is its disposal. Plastic is made of polymer chemicals and they are not bio degradable. This means that plastic will not decompose when it is buried. When plastic is burnt it emits harmful chemicals. Though plastic is a very useful material that is flexible, robust and rigid they become waste after their use and they pollute the atmosphere.

To protect the environment as well as to take advantage of plastic, recycling procedure is used. Plastic can be recycled and new products can be formed from waste plastic. Though all types of plastic cannot be recycled a considerable portion can be recycled so that the environment is protected. Plastic recycling involves the process of recovering scrap plastics and these waste plastics are then reprocessed to form new materials that may be different from their original state.

Recycling plastic has many advantages. The use of non renewable fossil fuels is reduced by recycling plastic as manufacturing new plastic materials require more of these fuels. The consumption of energy is also reduced as already prepared plastic are recycled for new use. The amount of plastic that reach the landfill sites are greatly reduced by recycling. This will eliminate land pollution to some extent. The carbon emissions are reduced by recycling plastic as manufacturing units emit more carbon..

Compared to other materials like glass and metal, recycling of plastic is expensive and complex. This is due to the high molecular weight of the large polymer chains that build the plastic material. Heating plastic doesn’t dissolve he polymer chains and hence a tedious and complex process is essential.

Different types of plastic cannot be mixed together for recycling because they phase separate. Such a resulting melting product cannot be recycled to make another plastic product. While making plastic products many fillers like dues and other additives are used. These fillers cannot be separated from the plastic using inexpensive techniques. This makes the recycling process more complex.

The common process that is used in recycling plastic is the inverse polymerization process where the polymers in the plastic are converted into initial monomers that were used in the manufacture. These chemicals are then purified and synthesized to form new plastic materials. Assorted polymers are converted into petroleum in another recycling process. The advantage of this process is that any mix of polymers can be used. A new recycling process generates heat from the friction of plastic materials which melts the plastics. This is then pumped into casting moulds. The great advantage of this technique is that all types of plastics can be recycled.

To aid the recycling process, plastics come with plastic identification code to identify the different polymers that are used in the manufacture of plastic. The recycling process must be started from home. When you have utilized that plastic item for its use you can use the same item for some other use. For example, if you buy a juice bottle you can use the pet plastic bottle as a storage container for reusing. Also everybody must be aware of the recycling plant in the locality and must produce the waste plastic to the plant for recycling.

By Jayashree Pakhare

Save Plastic. Get A Top Drinking Water Filter System Here!

With a Professional Home Drinking Water System you can:

Say good-bye to costly bottled water and to heavy water lugging. Throw away those gadget faucet filters which just don’t work.

Get unlimited ultra fresh, delicious drinking water right at home for drinking, cooking, ice & coffee making, baby-formula, pet feeding, dieting and many other uses.

Tremendous savings
bottled/delivered water = $0.79/gal   Home Reverse Osmosis water = $0.02/gal.  You save $ 0.77/gal. If you use 3 gallons per day, 1,095 gallon per year, you can save $ 843 per year!

The investment is back in half a year! — Why wait?

Here is what some people are saying:

We love our water filter system. The water tastes great and we don’t have to keep running to the store. My wife is so happy now that she doesn’t have to try to carry two kids and four gallons of water every couple of days.
S. Shepard

I am the proud owner of one of your RO-45 drinking water systems now for the last two years. I am very happy with the system and it has served me well. We are totally spoiled with drinking water now and will flattly refuse to drink from other sources.
R. J. Gross

I just finished installing the RO system last night. I got up this morning to the freshest, clearest water possible. My TDS reading before being purified by the RO was 857, but with my new RO system it is reading 4. You can see a real difference in the water before it is treated. The color before treatment is quite dingy, but after treatment, it is crystal clear and tastes great. I would highly recommend your system.
G. Donahoo

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See More plastic recycling facts below

Double the Amount of Plastic You Recycle

Most of us (I hope) recycle all the plastic bottles we use. But do you also recycle the many other small plastic containers you use daily, or do you just throw. … Turns out, they can all be recycled just as well as the PET bottles I’ve been collecting for recycling. The reason the recycling companies don’t advertise this fact is a sound one. Throwing these containers in the recycling bin 

Disposable Water Bottles

We’re aware that economic repercussions result from such a hard-line stance, and we are sensitive to the billion dollar industries that relate to the production, distribution, sale, recycling, et cetera of disposable water bottles 

Pet Project Coke’s Big Recycling Plant

Most of the chips will be refashioned into & fef lt;b>plastic bottles. Coke also makes T-shirts, tote bags, fleeces and other stuff from recycled PET, mostly as a way to encourage consumers to recycle and burnish its own image.

Code of Plastic

Note, however, plastic risk to the environment and health of the family. Watch some of the code 1.PETE or PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), Used for plastic bottles to a clear plastic bottles (see-through). … Type of plastic that are difficult in the recycling. This type of plastic found in the pda pastik wrappers and bottles.

Sears is Recycling Your Empty Mountain Dew Bottles

OK, the fine tailored part may or may not be an exaggeration on my part, but the fact that Sears is recycling plastic bottles into wearable business suits is no tall tale. Starting in Spring 2009, Sears will start selling the suits

Technorati Tags: bottles, bpa free, cost, PET, plastic recycling facts, plastics, polymer, process

This article is for anyone concerned about BPA that is looking for bottled water and water bottles that are BPA free.

You will learn about BPA and about a new BPA free water bottle option on the market. You will also learn where to get BPA free water bottles from.

BPA Basics
Bisphenol-A, commonly abbreviated BPA is a difunctional building block of several important polymers and polymer additives. It is used in some plastics including polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins which are used to line the majority of food and beverage cans. BPA is used in packaging for a lot of food and beverage products including polycarbonate water bottles (marked with recycling symbol #7), baby bottles, beer cans, soup cans, baby food cans, vegetable cans and soda cans. Some studies have shown that BPA can cause adverse health effects to mice, non-human primates and potentially humans. It is unclear how much BPA can actually leach into the food and beverages humans eat but it does give cause for much more research and study on the subject. For consumers looking to avoid BPA the alternate choices are not always easy to find but they do exist.

BPA Free Water Bottles

Millions of people enjoy bottled water and especially bottled water delivery service where large 5 gallon bottles of water are brought to their homes and offices. 5 gallon bottles made with polycarbonate plastic represent the overwhelming industry standard. In fact, in most cases they are the only large bottle type used by bottled water companies. However, polycarbonate bottles do contain BPA so for consumers who wants to avoid BPA and still enjoy water delivery service this presents a problem.

However, a new solution is emerging on the market and a few companies are blazing a new trail by offering BPA free water bottle options in the form of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic 5 gallon bottles. These new BPA free PET 5 gallon bottles offer the same durability and weight of the standard polycarbonate bottles and they can even have built-in handles. However, unlike the polycarbonate bottles these new water bottles are completely BPA free. The PET bottles, marked by the #1 recycling symbol, can be re-used after sterilization and also offer the durability needed for repetitive water delivery. For the concerned water drinker, these bottles are an excellent solution with the only challenge being to find a water delivery company in their locale that offers them.

BPA Free Water Delivery

For those water drinkers that don’t have water delivery and might be relying on a home or office water filtration system they should be aware that many systems can’t remove BPA from the tap water. If they truly want to enjoy BPA free water they should look for a water company that will deliver ultra-purified bottled water to them in 5 gallon BPA free PET bottles. By choosing a water company that can deliver water and bottles that are free of BPA they will be able to enjoy refreshing water while eliminating there exposure to Bisphenol-A. For consumers that receive water delivery in polycarbonate bottles they should seek out a bottled water company that will deliver water to them in PET plastic 5 gallon bottles. It may take a bit of research to find the right vendor but more companies are starting to offer BPA free water bottles.

By Jason Matthews

BPA Free Water Bottles and  Delivery

Loving Heart Mommy: Hydrate Yourself!

She’ll be comforted knowing this bottle is made from BPA-free Eastman Tritan™ copolyester and love it if you include a donation to charity: water in her name to support sustainable hydration in African communities. 

Do Sigg Bottles Leech

If you put beer/coffee/wine/whatever in the bottle all it needs is a quick rinse with water and it won’t retain any of the smells or tastes. It got to the point where I would need to bleach my Nalgene once a week if i forgot …. All of the bottles currently online and in our stores are BPA free

The Latest News On BPA

And what if you’ve put your company name all over re-usable water bottles in an effort to promote your business and do something for the environment? What you need to know, if you’re worried about BPA, is to look for unbreakable … Trying to address the issue, the FDA released a statement in response to the Science Board report suggesting worried parents turn to BPA-free plastic alternatives or glass baby bottles

Nalgene Reusable Plastic Water Bottle

I loved my Nalgene too but alas, I’ve made the change! I bought the BPA-free Titan Water Bottle – it’s got a built in carabiner clip and they say you can unclip it and drink from it all with one hand! It’s on backorder right now so I’m thinking about another BPA free … I just purchased a nalgene bottle , eco friendly reuseable water bottle kit ; it has a number 7 in a triangle on the bottom and says it is made in the USA. 

Paper Bottles

If it irks you to pack a plastic water bottle as much as it irks us, take note of this new prototype design: paper water bottles. Design firm Brandimage has come up with a concept. National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) reports that 2.7 million tons of plastic PET bottles hit U.S. shelves

Keep The Bottle Contest

My parent’s cabin does not have drinkable tap water, so we use a lot of water bottles, juice bottles and all kind of bottles. I found a way to reuse them by turning them into a useful, good looking and entertaining buoy for the lake. posted by Patenteux du Nord … The objective of the project was to create a plane (floor, wall, ceiling, partition, anything planar really) out of used objects(our group happens to choose 2 litre PET soda bottles

Technorati Tags: bottle, bottles, bpa free, containers, hot, liquid, liquids, PET, plastic, safe, storage, water