If we use plastic bottle for storing water in the fridges, are we recycling plastic?

Question

If we use plastic bottle for storing water in the fridges, are we recycling plastic?

Answer 1

I think what you're doing is "Reusing" it. But in my opinion~ as long as youre not throwing it away in the trash you're doing the best thing for the earth!

Answer 2

its 1 way to so...... i agree

Answer 3

While all of the above answers respond directly to the question, I suggest another point perhaps more cogent.

All materials degrade over time. Plastics generally degrade faster than many other materials used for containers. [We're talking food grade materials here]

So, water stored in plastic containers will, over time, pick up some of the degrading plastic; and some of the off-gassing and other substances from plastic are now being recognized to be very nasty stuff.

Try glass; ask for glass at the store; demand glass for soft drinks and beer, thus avoiding even the need to recycle aluminum.

Glass is much more inert and lasts very long; it can be re-used if we demand that companies go back to cleaning and re-using the glass containers.

Cheers

Answer 4

As Talismb said, it's the second step in the waste three-some  - Reduce, Re-use, Recycle, in that order of preference. Recycling requires much more energy to make something else out of the base product (i.e. a plastic bottle will have to be washed, granulated, heated/melted and somehow formed into a new product). Re-use obviously requires little energy (to cut the bottom off the bottle, for instance, to use as a watering device) and Reduction is the simplest method of all - which you are also doing by not going out & buying more bottles of water, for instance!

We all try to re-cycle & think we're doing our bit, but we should actually be thinking closely about the containers we buy and how necessary they are? Anyone who buys bananas in a plastic bag (when they've got their own natural cover) must be exactly that - bananas. If it's the only choice, become a "stripper" & strip off the bag at the check-out before you leave the store!! Preferably, buy un-wrapped!

Answer 5

You are reusing it, which is better than recycling since you don't have to do anything (like expend energy) to do it.  Go for it!

Answer 6

No but you are REUSING, which is one of the steps (reuse, recycle, reduce)

Answer 7

You certainly are...reusing is the best way to recycle

Answer 8

Re-using is exactly what recycling is all about.  An item doesn't have to be re-processed to be recycled.

Answer 9

Anything that keeps it out of the landfill is recycling. If you cut it open and made a planter out of it, that would be recycling as well.

Answer 10

technically no.

Answer 11

If you are buying bottled water and then reusing the bottles it may not be in your best interest to do so.  Most plastic bottles used for bottled water are about the thinest and cheapest stuff around.  This means that the plastic will degrade into the water especially if it is reused over again.  If you need to have bottled water,  buy some glass or that "unbreakable" plastic type containers designed for being reused and fill them with filtered water from your tap.  You can buy a filter that will do everything the bottled water companies do except put a label on your container.  It's cheaper and enviromental friendly.

Some countries in Euroupe actually REUSE most of the plastic containers used for pop, water, juice, etc...  and you can get a small amount of money back for returning the bottle. The bottles are made of heavier plastic that can be reused a few times before it is then recycled to make a new bottle.

Answer 12

Yes- Re-useing something

No-It is the same thing nont remade.

I think it is a form of recycling, more likely just called reusing or reducing waste, which is a environment friendly move.

Good job!

Answer 13

Yes, you are but you must know that the bottles are just for 5 times uses before the bottle starts tasting bad.