5.4 Plastic Waste Flashcards
Are most polymers biodegradable or not?
Not biodegradable
What does it mean if many polymers are not biodegradable?
Plastic waste is not broken down and left in the environment
How can we prevent plastic rubbish everywhere?
Dispose properly of plastics
Name 2 disadvantages of plastic being left in the environment
- unsightly
* harms wildlife
Name the 3 ways we can dispose of plastics
- landfill
- recycling
- incineration
What can break down biodegradable plastics? How?
Micro organisms, the plastics break down when they are in contact with soil
How would using biodegradable plastics help with the problems of plastic litter?
There will be less litter as the plastic waste will be able to break down
Name 2 advantages of disposing of plastic through landfill
- convenient
* possible to extract and sell methane
Name 4 disadvantages of disposing of plastics through landfill
- expensive to build and maintain
- require specialist long term management
- bin lorries provide CO2
- environmental problems
Name 4 advantages of disposing of plastic waste through recycling
- less water, energy resources
- produces fewer greenhouse gases
- less landfill
- new and fast
Name 4 disadvantages of disposing of plastic waste through recycling
- sorting is expensive and hard to get people on board with
- can’t sell anything
- reduces versatility
- risk of contamination
Name an advantage of disposing of plastic waste through incineration
•eliminate it completely
Name 3 disadvantages of disposing of plastic waste through incineration
Produces harmful gases that lead to:
•global dimming
•global warming
•acid rain
What can plastics from non biodegradable polymers have in it to help it break down? How does this help?
Cornstarch, micro organisms break down the cornstarch so the plastic breaks down into very small pieces that can be mixed with soil or compost
What can biodegradable plastics be made from?
Plant material
