Michigan Alert: Stop Reusing Plastic Water Bottles Immediately

Reusing plastic water bottles is something a lot of Michiganders do—it seems like an easy way to save a few bucks and cut down on waste. But lately, experts have been warning that this habit might not be as harmless as it seems. In fact, it could actually be bad for your health.

The more I see this topic come up, the more research I do, and I’m realizing that reusing your water bottle is a really bad idea. According to experts, plastics made for single use are a major concern because of how they’re designed. I read an article that explained it perfectly—it compared single-use plastic to our skin constantly shedding cells. Each time you refill a single-use plastic water bottle, it sheds micro- and nanoplastics into your water.

The same thing happens with any type of single-use plastic, including utensils, takeout containers, frozen meal containers, and more. These items aren’t built to last, and when reused, they can break down, releasing tiny plastic particles into your food or drinks.

It might not sound like a big deal to some people, but you have to think about what this could potentially do to your body over time—especially considering there are around 16,000 chemicals found in plastic.

When you add heat to your plastic containers, it can cause the plastic to break down more quickly, releasing harmful chemicals into your food or drink. Knowing this really makes me want to toss out all my plastics.

What can you use instead of your traditional plastics?

Instead of traditional plastics, you can use stainless steel, glass, or BPA-free plastic.