Plastic Waste

Plastic Waste

1. The plastic called PET

   • poly(ethene terephthalate)
   • fizzy drink bottles are made out of PET
     • Light, strong and transparent.
   • Recycled PET bottles can be used to make polyester fibres for clothes.

2. Disposing of non-biodegradable plastics

   • Causes unsightly rubbish
   • Mostly ends up in landfill sites, where they can take hundreds of years to be broken down completely
   • Could harm wildlife

3. Biodegradable Plastics

   • Broken down by microorganisms in the soil
   • Building in granules of cornstarch to plastic
     • Microorganisms feed on starch and this breaks plastic up into smaller pieces quickly.
   • Making plastics from plant products
     • Used in food packaging or plastic bags
     • Also helps preserve crude oil supplies
     • e.g using PLA

4. Using corn can raise the same issues as biofuels

   • Farmers selling crops for fuel and plastics could raise food prices
     • lack of basic food supplies could result in starvation in developing countries
   • Destruction of rain forests to create more farmland
     • Destroy habitats
     • Affect global warming

5. Recycling Plastics

   • Once sorted into different types, can be melted down and made into new products
     • Saves energy and resources
   • Disadvantages
     • Plastic takes up a lot of space
     • Sorting plastics can be difficult and time consuming