Science - Recycling

Aim: To learn practical ways of recycling so that we can make our world a better place.

The Zero Waste Climate Solution movie

How can we prevent climate change though recycling these products?

Plastics: It prevents us from burning coal and oil and helps us use less energy. 
Cycling or walking: Instead of taking a car or a bus which releases carbon monoxide which evaporates into the air and rises the earths atmosphere. Walking to different places means you're not releasing carbon monoxide 
Paper: If we stop using as much paper and wasting paper it means less tree's are being cut down 
Steel: Less coal is burnt and that means less gasses which rise our earths temperature are released. 

Video questions:

What is Zero Waste?

One of the quickest and cheapest ways a community can immediately reduce climate impact. 
What can we do on the planet?

1.   Resign
2.   Recycle
3.   Stop feeding animal products
4.   Start feeding soils

What do we need to recycle?

All plastics, paper, glass bottles, jars, milk and juice cartons and everything else that can be recycled! Share things.

What does recycling do?

It stops the use of fossil fuels which means less carbon dioxide would be released into the air. 

How much of our rubbish is food scraps?

42%

What does soil do to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

CH4 Methane 

What do we need to do?

1. Have Zero Waste.

What is a carbon footprint?

the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of a person or a community.

How can you make your Carbon Footprint smaller?

To stop the use of fossil fuel products, lower the rate of energy in your household, walk and not using cars or motorcycles. Sharing your resources. 

My Goals

1. Turning off the lights in the house that i'm not using.
2. Walk more places instead of getting my parents to take me.
3. Use recyclable products/don't use fossil fuel products.

AT WHAT RATES DO DIFFERENT ITEMS DECOMPOSE?

MY INVESTIGATION.

Choose 5 items from the list and investigate them. 

You need to answer three questions.

Name: Aluminium Can

1. How long do they take to decompose? 200-400 years
2. What resource / fossil fuel are they made from? Metal
3. How is this resource recycled? The aluminium is taken to a treatment plant and it goes through a re-melt process and turns into molten. Then it's made into a large block called ingot then they are made into cans or aluminium products again.
4. How does this object contribute to climate change? When aluminium is made they use a lot of electricity and releasing CO2 which is obviously bad for our planet. 

Name: Milk Carton

1. How long do they take to decompose? 5 years
2. What resource / fossil fuel are they made from? Polyethylene
3. How is this resource recycled? Milk cartons have a similar process to aluminium but in the end of the process some processed milk cartons are sent over seas and can be used for a roof.
4. How does this object contribute to climate change? When milk cartons are made they use up a lot of electricity and releasing CO2 which is obviously bad for our planet. Same as aluminium.

Name: Glass Bottle

1. How long do they take to decompose? 500 years-forever
2. What resource / fossil fuel are they made from? A liquid sand.
3. How is this resource recycled? Glass is taken from the bin and taken to a glass treatment plant then the glass is washed and sorted by colour. The glass is then crushed and melted then moulded into new products like jars and bottles.
4. How does this object contribute to climate change? CO2 is released when glass is made.

Name: Plastic Bag

1. How long do they take to decompose? 10-20 years
2. What resource / fossil fuel are they made from? Polythene 
3. How is this resource recycled? They have similar process to other fossil fuel products, broken down and then made into the same or similar product.
4. How does this object contribute to climate change? CO2 is released when the plastic bags are being made.

Name: Plastic Bottle

1. How long do they take to decompose? 400-500 years.
2. What resource / fossil fuel are they made from? Polythene terephthalate
3. How is this resource recycled? Every plastic bottle is separated from metal, glass and other things that we put into recycle bins, the plastic bottles are also sorted by the different type of plastics they are made from. Then the bottles are washed. Then the same process as milk cartons, plastic bags and more.
4. How does this object contribute to climate change? The use of electricity and CO2 being released into the air.