Lesson 8.3 Recycling Plastic

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)

Polystyrene polymer

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

500 years to 1,000 years

100 years to 200 years

5 years to 10 years

30 years to 50 years

Animals can swallow or become tangled in them

They decompose quickly in water

They attract predators to nests

They give off harmful gases

Air pollution from the ocean

Environmental plastic pollution

Greenhouse gases from factories

Production of new metals

They break down plastic waste

They help recycle marine life

They disperse pollutants evenly

They concentrate plastic in certain areas

Monomer units or molecules

Chain links

Crystal structures

Metal atoms

Synthetic weeds

Urban tumbleweeds

Polyester debris

Plastic seas

Special energy-intensive methods

Natural decay processes

Water treatment plants

Simple composting techniques

Plant materials and fibers

Natural minerals from the earth

Renewable energy sources

Fossil fuels like oil and gas

Landfills

Community workshops

Oceans and rivers

Recycling bins

Recycled plastics alone.

Water and carbon dioxide combination.

Light hydrocarbons from natural gas or crude oil.

Coal and heavy metals mixture.

HDPE, due to its linear structure.

Polypropylene, with low melting point.

PET, made from heavy metals.

PVC, which is flexible at room temperature.

Increasing their weight for recycling processes.

Creating new colors from old plastic.

Sorting and processing them separately from other materials.

Making them waterproof again.

Concrete for building foundations.

Glass containers for storage.

Clothing and fibers for textile.

Composite lumber for construction.

They are cleaned, melted, and formed into pellets.

They are burned to create energy.

Stored indefinitely in landfills.

Mixed with organic materials for composting.

Disposing them in the ocean.

Melting them at home.

Transporting bales to recycling centers.

Selling them for profit immediately.

Heavy-Duty Plastic Examining.

Hydration-Dependent Polyethylene.

High-Density Polyethylene, a sturdy material.

Hazardous Device Polyethylene.

Filling sandbags for flood control.

Making heavy machinery parts.

Creating single-use disposable items.

Manufacturing new plastic bags and products.

Manufactures bags from recycled plastic materials.

Imports non-recycled plastic from abroad.

Donates plastic bags to landfills.

Disposes plastic in oceans safely.