Why Ban Plastics in Programs?

We've all heard information to varying degrees on what plastics and plastic bags are doing to our environment. On a global scale you can see China and Australia have banned free bags, and there is a global movement to ban their use all together. You can click HERE for an interesting article on the topic.

I'm banning giving away plastic bags in my programs, and I think it's a good moment for Friends groups around the nation to sell or give away canvas bags to their patrons. I have about 20 plastic bags left that are a holdover from another program, and I'll use them up for "sick kid" bags I put together. After that I'm going to have to explore other options for bags, as I don't think it's really eco-responsible to keep giving them away.

But why ban plastics in toys? The Oregon Toxics Alliance has from very concise information to give you a few ideas on why we should ban them from toys.

The Center for Health, Environment and Justice also has specific information on PVC: The Poison Plastic and the use of it in toys.

One difficulty in selecting prizes for Summer Reading Programs is that most plastic toys are not labeled with their plastic code and few toys sales companies list the ingredients in their description. Compound the problem with international standards and the outsourcing of toy manufacturing and there may be little or no information for us to make a judgment call on.
It would be a conundrum too. If it's a "safe" plastic to use for play, it may not be a "safe" plastic for recycling.

I'm also completely noting that it isn't necessarily our job to deem what is "safe" for the general public. Our role is one of providing information for the public so they can make an informed choice in their lives. I do think that our role tremendously shifts when we are giving the items away. It transitions beyond our norms and standard mission, as we are responsible for making sure it’s worthy items to award.

This leaves us with an incomplete picture for health, safety and recycling. As a nosy Librarian that thrives on information, I'm uncomfortable with ordering any plastics for children at this point as I believe in a full diet of information prior to making a decision.
To quote Carla Morris from The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians, "That's just how librarians are."