[Strawbale] PVC

[Speireag Alden]

On 2008, Feb 18, at 11:50, someone wrote to me off-list, something  
worth replying to on-list:

> In a nutshell why is using PVC bad for watering the garden and what  
> is ABS? Can I use it to get my water from my gutter collecting  
> containers to my garden.

     PVC gives off very potent carcinogens and persistent  
bioaccumulative toxins at almost every stage of its life cycle.  It  
also contains some combinations of phthalates (also a persistent  
accumulative nasty) and heavy metals like lead and cadmium, for  
plasticity.  Phthalates are known to leach out of plastics,  
especially at high temperatures (like hot coffee temps), which is why  
I don't drink out of plastic bottles if I can avoid it.  I prefer  
ceramic mugs and glass bottles.

     The most benign portion of its lifecycle is, perhaps, when it's  
in use.  However, recycling is essentially impossible, re-use is  
difficult, and where does it go then?  A landfill.  So it's not  
sustainable, its production is toxic and carcinogenic, and there's no  
good way to get rid of it.

     There's no denying that it's awfully convenient in the short- 
term, but I'm trying to learn to think long-term.

     If I were going to eat from a garden, I would not use PVC to  
route my water to the garden.

-Speireag.