It took me about two hours to open and compost or recycle all of the expired food items from our pantry.  There are a few extra things in here, from another cupboard. that weren't in the first picture, such as old children's animal crackers that I put in to absorb the gross stuff. 

Below is the trash, compost and recyclables from the expired items in my pantry. 
Yes, I know - what a waste!

I heated my lunch up in a microwave in the cafeteria at work today.  I observed a man heating up his food in a plastic (black bottom & clear top) take out container, with the plastic fork in the food (yes, while it was cooking!).  Two more staff members came to use the microwaves to heat up their lunches in plastic containers.  My food was heated in a glass container with no lid.  I did use plastic containers to heat up my food in the past, until I learned the microwave melts plastic in to your food, which you then eat.  This can contribute to a host of health problems, caused by endocrine disruption (Natural Resources Defense Council).  Ecology Center lists an eye-opening chart of the potential health effects of different types of plastic.   Did you know there is plastic in some chewing gum???  The Canadian Cancer Society recommends using only microwave safe plastic containers at lower heat to avoid ingesting plastic.

 Sources:

 Canadian Cancer Society.  http://www.cancer.ca/canada-wide/about%20cancer/cancer%20myths/microwaves%20and%20plastic%20containers.aspx?sc_lang=en

 Ecology Center.  http://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/plastichealtheffects.html

Natural Resources Defense Council http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/qendoc.asp