How are Bottles Recycled?
In 2016, the U.S. generated more plastic trash than any other country. It amounts to 46.3 million tons, according to a 2020 study published in Science Advances. That’s 287 pounds per person in a single year. But only a fraction of plastic is actually recycled. According to the most recent data estimates available from the Environmental Protection Agency, just 8.7 percent of the plastic that was discarded in the U.S. in 2018 was recycled. Since plastic is non-biodegradable and most of it is sent to landfills, it ends up in rivers and oceans and ultimately in the food chain, creating micro and nano plastics. Fish and other sea creatures suffer, and the effects of swallowing plastics are passed on to humans. Therefore, recycling is very important, and an important part includes the separation of plastic.
A presentation will be given to inculcate the idea of different plastics and their recycling. To depict an important aspect of recycling, different plastic materials will be taken and subjected to separation by a simple density-based method. This will be applied to recycle bottles.
Presented by:
- Subhaprad Ash, Teaching Assistant II, Chemistry, MSU
Suggested for ages: Kindergarten and Pre-K, Elementary school age, Middle school age, High school age, 18 years and above
Scientific Disciplines:
- Energy and Environment
Time and Location
-
4/13/2024 2:30 - 3:15 PM
Location: STEM Teaching and Learning Facility Room 1130