The six Rs Flashcards
What is refuse?
the first stage of production
simply not using something saves 100% of what you have chosen not to use
Give an example of refuse
using your own carrier bag instead of getting a new disposable one
walking or cycling to school instead of being driven
What is planned obsolesce?
When company deliberately designed modern materials to only last a few years so consumers buy the latest product
EG.mobile phones
What is tertiary recycling?
lower quality then original material
requires reprocessing of material
involves chemicals and or heat to removed the recycled material
How are metals and plastics separated when recycled?
METALS-melted and can be very high quality is separated correctly before processing
PLASTICS-separated into their forms and reprocessed separately
How is glass and paper separated when recycled?
GLASS-separated into their forms and reprocessed separately
PAPER-graded and made into different paper products
Why are battery and electrical appliances hard to dispose of?
may contain toxic metals and may leak into the environment
What is the majority of the remaining waste categorised as?
Recover or Rot
How can food/garden waste be recycled?
food/garden waste can be processed at a high temp and turn to compost and then it is returned to the earth as a growing medium and used in horticulture
What is another way waste material can be recycled?
waste material is burned and the heat from combustion is used to heat water which in turn is used to heat homes and business
can also be turned into steam
What is a landfill?
were waste is buried which results in methane gas being collected from the rotting matter and burned so it can be used t o generate heat/electricity
What is the least sustainable option for getting rid of waste materials?
burying unsorted waste directly in a landfill site.
cause heavy metals leaching into the ground and can find they way into water and rivers
