Investigate

=__Investigate__ = __**RE: these are just our notes

PLASTIC**__

__Why is plastic so bad compared to other rubbish?__ The kitchen is the main source of plastic waste. Some of the main rubbish that is thrown out from the kitchen are food containers, cups, food wrapping and drink bottles. Most plastics are not biodegradable so they clog up our landfills. It takes thousands of years for items that are not biodegradable to decompose. The first year that items were made out of plastic was 1868. Since then more and more items have been made out of plastic and will continue to be unless we do something about it. Some more recent plastic inventions are ball point p ens, lighters, Styrofoam and plastic cups as well as disposable razors. Plastic is partly made of oil which is a fossil fuel.

Plastic waste in the ocean is a very big issue. It is a huge problem for animals who mistake it for food and swallow it or get caught in it. It is an estimate that there is 46,000 pieces of floating garbage for every square mile of the ocean.  There are 197 million square miles of ocean so if you calculate that it is a huge amount. 

plastics bags are bad because they don’t break down for up to 1000 years.

-It takes about 430,000 gallons of oil to produce 100 million not biodegradable plastic bags.

-There is a littering fine of up to $400

Used cigarettes: 1–5 years Metal cans: 1,5–50 years plastic soda bottles: 5–10 years Plastic bags: 10–20 years gum: 20–25 years aluminum cans: 80 years to 1 million years Polystyrene chip wrapping: 90 years Six pack bottle wrapping: 100 years, Glass bottles: 1 million years. 

NB- WE SHOULD FIND OUT EXACTLY HOW MANY SQUARE MILES OF OCEAN THERE ARE FOR DOCUMENTARY!! (197 million square miles)  __What is an alternative to plastic or packaging with plastic__? Instead of using plastic to wrap things you cou ld use paper because it is recyclable. You could also purchase reusable food containers, water bottles and grocery bags such as cloth bags to reduce plastic waste. Guess what, scientists have developed plastics that are made from renewable resources such as cord and soy. These plastics are biodegradable and break down much quicker than plastics made from petroleum or petrol. Also in 2007 scientists from the U.S showcased a plastic that can break down in water within 20 days. This would prevent animals from suffocating and eating the plastic in the seas.

__**RECYCLING**__

__Pro's and Con's of Recycling! Pros__ -It takes less time therefore energy to make something with recycled materials rather than something new. -It saves space in landfills -It saves natural resources -It will save money

__Cons__ -The inconvenience -Transportation, it takes an extra truck to collect recyclables -Processing consumes energy -The work involved -Economic, recycling programs cost money, though as solid waste costs go up and landfills close down those costs pay for themselves in the end.

__What happens to our waste one it is recycled?

Glass bottles recycle process__ -collected from pick up point -taken to a recycling factory -sorted into different colours -some glass is melted down in a furnace and mixed with raw materials to make new glass bottles. -The rest of the glass is used in water filtration units and even road building.

__The actual recycling process at most plants:__

1- Our waste is brought to the recycling plant 2- Everything is weighed and recorded, according to where it was collected 3- The recyclables are emptied onto the tipping floor 4- The waste is put on to the main feed conver belt and then it is directed to several sorting areas __PRE SORT AREA__ 1- All non recyclable materials are removed. This includes large objects and plastic bags, then these unwanted materials are put into the rubbish. 2- The waste flows through several disc screens which are rotating discs where all the small objects fall through and are redirected onto another conver belt and the large objects carry on. 3- The large objects are sent directly to a storage area for future bailing. 4- The smaller objects are sent to the combination string. This seperates paper materials from other house hold objects. 5- The material is compressed and tied automatically by machines.

(THIS PART I DON'T EXACTLY GET)

__MIXED FIBER__ - Cereal boxes - Junk mail - Magazines 1- These materials are sorted manually and any paper is removed 2- A magnet removes any steel cans. 3- All glass material is removed and broken, then transferred to outside storage compartments. 4- Plastic and cans are seperated and then the cans are bailed.

Plastic processing area identifies the type of plastic from other recyclables. Once the bunker is filled the contents are released onto the main conver belt. Then they are compressed and tied with wire.

__**Waste**__ __How much waste can you recycle that is not recycled__ Every year the U.S.A uses about 14.5 billion kgs of plastic products. Currently only 2% of these items are recycled. This means more fossil fuels have to be used to make more plastic items. Plastic bottled drinks make up a large percent of plastic trash. It is an estimate that the U.S.A throws out 30 million bottles every day! The U.S.A throw away around 100 billion plastic bags in a year. Plastic bags take 1000's of years to decompose in landfills.

__What are the worst kinds of rubbish in our world__ Plastics???We need to research this!