Column: Randy Tuchtenhagen, Solid Waste

I have been educating people for years about making smart shopping choices. It isn’t just the theme of buying in bulk quantities and being able to recycle the container when you are finished. It’s also about purchasing the right product.

If price is the only consideration to purchasing, you may end up with something that does not do the job. Soap, household cleaners, food or clothing are examples of not getting what you paid for when they don’t perform to your expectations. Another consideration involves your health.

We have all heard about the bisphenol (BPA) and phalates that could leach out of plastics into our food. Health problems with these include cancer, adult-onset diabetes and obesity. But what about other liquids and lotions like soap, deodorant or makeup? A single person may use 10 or more personal-care products a day and some contain strong chemicals. More than 3,000 chemicals are used just to create fragrances and most have never been tested to see how toxic they are to humans. Remember, in the United States most chemicals are only tested by the manufacturer unless claims of health problems are made, and then it may take years to get them off the market. Only in Europe are they tested for safety first, then marketed.

The best plan to reduce waste, recycle and protect your health is by making wise shopping choices, thinking ahead and planning. For example, there is nothing wrong with glass containers. We have been using them since 1500 BC. Glass food and beverage containers sometimes cost more and weigh more but they are highly recyclable and reusable, you don’t have to check for a recycling number and there are no leaching chemicals or health issues. They are safe to use in the microwave and hold hot foods longer. We are not talking about window glass that contains lead and is not recyclable. At least not recyclable with our program.

Bleach is not expensive and often does a good job of cleaning and sterilization. The health issue is that alarming levels of chlorine are showing up in humans, especially infants. An alternative is a 3 percent peroxide. Peroxide is safe for use as a mouth wash, cleaning counter tops, it kills salmonella, foot fungus, infections and cuts, and used as a nasal spray for head colds, laundry whitener, cleaning mirrors and odor eliminator. Lower doses of peroxide are required than other cleaners, it costs less and will achieve similar results. Small quantities of peroxide as a cleaner are also a better choice if you have a septic system.

When shopping, take time to pick the item you need not based on price, but usefulness, effectiveness and recyclability. Your health may also benefit from those choices.

Randy Tuchtenhagen is the solid waste officer for Freeborn County.