While there is no set timeframe for replacing plastic food containers, experts say they should be tossed out when they show visible wear, chips, cracks, or signs of stains and odors. In place of plastic containers, experts recommend opting for glass or stainless steel instead.
Your home is not a landfill. Many older plastics (and still some made today) can leach into your food, so keeping them might even be harmful if you use them for food storage. If you can't recycle them in your area, throw them out.
“Plastic food storage containers should be replaced every six months to one year, depending on usage and wear and tear. Over time, plastic containers can become scratched, stained, or damaged, and that starts to pose a food safety risk, explains Dragomir Markovic, food scientist and founder of Wise Intake.
Can It Be Recycled? Depends on the Number. Tupperware, Glad or other brand plastic food storage containers are made from different types of plastics and have different handling instructions. Look to see which number (from 1 to 7) the container has, and then recycle according to that number.
Old Tupperware, especially those over a decade old, might contain hazardous chemicals like cadmium, lead, and arsenic. These can leach into your food, posing significant health risks. Vintage Tupperware products are particularly concerning due to the potential leaching of additional harmful substances.
"Moldy plastic items, such as Tupperware containers, should be thrown away—this material is porous and can hold on to mold spores and affect other meals you put in it," says Petya Holevich, Fantastic Services's house cleaning expert and supervisor.
Since March 2010, items Tupperware sells in the US and Canada are BPA-free, according to its website.
Health advocates advise against reusing bottles made from plastic #1 (polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET or PETE), including most disposable water, soda, and juice bottles. Such bottles may be safe for one-time use but reuse should be avoided.
What is best from the reduce/reuse/recycle perspective? If they are clean, Recology prefers them to be recycled into a new product. If they are soiled, then they should go into the compost bin where they can break down.
Takeout containers are also good for storing bulk grains and beans at home. They stack well in the cupboard, you can see what's in them, and you can write cooking instructions on the lid with a Sharpie.
If any of your containers have a #3, #6, or #7, those should be disposed of because they are considered high-risk plastics. If you're going to use one of the safer plastics, it's best not to store acidic or greasy foods in them.
We often simply throw plastics away into the recycling bin, however, due to the material properties of plastics, not all can be recycled. About 75% of global plastics produced are thermoplastics that can be melted and molded over and over to produce new plastics, which – in theory – makes all thermoplastics recyclable.
The bottom line: rinse recyclables, seriously
You don't need to scrub those plastic and glass containers with soap and water to make them clean enough to eat off of. But taking a moment to give them a rinse, even if it's just with dishwater runoff, will ensure that they end up getting processed.
How do you declutter food storage containers? First, take out every item and assess what you already have at home. Get rid of broken or miscolored containers and the ones that lack a matching lid. Then take some time to identify your habits — they determine how many food storage containers you need.
Remember that all plastics break down when exposed to heat—whether in the microwave or dishwasher—and when exposed to strong soaps. Cracks and cloudiness are signs that a clear, reusable plastic container has started to break down and may be releasing BPA or other chemicals into your beverage or food.
Bulky Rigid Plastic
Items in good working condition can be donated for reuse. If your item is not in good working condition, it may be taken to a special facility for recycling or, if your city/town allows, put in the trash.
Ziploc®-brand containers are quoted to have a 5-10 year lifespan, but a good rule of thumb is to assume all older Tupperware is not safe, especially if you don't remember how long you've had it.
Large plastic storage tubs with a #2 or #5 on them can be recycled with bulky rigid plastics at the drop-off locations listed below.
While there is no set timeframe for replacing plastic food containers, experts say they should be tossed out when they show visible wear, chips, cracks, or signs of stains and odors. In place of plastic containers, experts recommend opting for glass or stainless steel instead.
Along with #6 PS (polystyrene) and black plastics, #3 PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and #7 PC (polycarbonate, not to be confused with #7 PLA, polylactic acid, which is a plant-based plastic) plastics are considered among the most toxic plastics to produce, and the most difficult to recycle.
The difference in the recyclability of plastic types can be down to how they are made; thermoset plastics contain polymers that form irreversible chemical bonds and cannot be recycled, whereas thermoplastics can be re-melted and re-molded.
Plastic #5 - PP (Polypropylene)
Used in production of most yogurt containers, some pancake syrup bottles, and bottle caps. Can be recycled into plastic lumber, bins, car battery cases, brooms, and ice scrapers.
Exposure to BPA is a concern because of the possible health effects on the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. It can also affect children's behavior. Additional research suggests a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Your storage containers will have the symbol of a fork and wine glass engraved into the plastic if it actually is safe to store your meals in. Don't worry—most of your Tupperware should be completely usable with food, but it's always a good idea to check.
Don't use plastic containers that are more than 10 years old. Generally speaking, your containers will tell you when they're ready for their trash can funeral as they develop staining, scratches or odors that won't go away no matter how thoroughly you wash.