Gardening

I want to start a DWC hydroponics system on my balcony but have concerns about the safety of the plant containers.

The first idea was to use plastic sauce buckets from the local snackbar. They're a waste product and you can easily get a large stack of 10L buckets for free just by asking. They're initially food safe material and all you have to do is wash out the sauce residue.

The problem is though that this food safety won't last long in sunlight. The plastic will inevitably break down and release contaminants into the plant water and therefore will also end up in whatever vegetables that are growing in it.

I have considered getting other materials, such as glass vases or perhaps stoneware. Both are heavy and anything large enough is also quite expensive. Weight is a consideration as well on a balcony.

Another option would be to cover the plastic buckets with some plate material with a few holes in it for the plants.

Am I overthinking this? I'm trying to avoid plastic whenever possible but with the right precautions it shouldn't be that bad.