Plastics

Plastics

page 145

Plastics- the beginning

• Cheap and durable• Alternative to glass

and animal products such as ivory

• Could be used to replicate a variety of materials

Plastics- the problem

• Most types created from the fossil fuel, petroleum, a non-renewable resource

• Used in a lot of packaging- a large part of the waste in our landfills

• Takes a long time to break down- we don’t know how long!

Plastics- the problem

• A lot of plastic never makes it to a landfill

• Ends up in habitats of many animals

• Pollutes the ocean

Trash Patches• Pacific – World’s worst example of pollution

• Twice the size of Texas

Floating soup of plastic bags and other goods which has collected over many years because the clockwise, circular current and lack of wind drives floating debris into the center of the gyre.

click on picture to see video

So what?

• A turtle found dead in Hawaii had over a thousand pieces of plastic in its stomach and intestines.

• It has is estimated that over a million sea-birds and one hundred thousand marine mammals and sea turtles are killed each year by ingestion of plastics or entanglement.

• Animals can become entangled in discarded netting and line.

CAUTION

Not for those with weak stomachs!

http://www.thewritefuture.com/the-write-future/2011/08/islandinthestream.html

Albatrosses on Midway atoll. Photo Source: dailylife

  Haitian Coast. Photo Source: unknown http://www.wavesofchange.org/articles/view/204530/?topic=17098

Ways to reduce plastic waste…

• Reduce- use less plastic by using reusable bags, containers, bottles.

• Reuse- plastic bags from the grocery store can be used multiple times

• Recycle- plastic is recyclable! And please don’t litter…

• Re-buy- buy goods made from recycled materials whenever possible!

Recyclability of Common Materials…

• Aluminum cans: infinitely, and aluminum is a valuable resource!

• Paper: 5-7 times to make new paper, after that must be mixed with something else or used to create something else.

• Cardboard: many times• Glass: infinitely, doesn’t lose quality, and cheaper to recycle

than make new glass• Plastics: once to make same item, then must be created

into something else such as fabrics, furniture, and carpet