Plastics
What is plastic made from?
Synthetic materials derived from petrochemicals.
What are microplastics?
Small plastic particles less than 5mm in size.
What size are nanoplastics?
Particles smaller than 1 micrometer.
What does recycling mean?
The process of converting waste into reusable material.
Name one environmental concern associated with plastic waste.
Pollution and harm to wildlife.
What is the most common source of microplastics in our water?
Microfibers: through laundering clothing that has nylon, polyester OR through drinking from plastic bottles.
How can nanoplastics be formed?
Through the degradation of larger plastic items.
Name one type of plastic that is easily recycled.
PET (polyethylene terephthalate).
Why is everything made of plastic?
They are cheap to produce and easy to manufacture.
How do microplastics affect marine life?
They can be ingested by marine organisms, causing physical harm and toxic effects.
Or they get ingested as sea animals think they are food.
What is one potential health risk associated with nanoplastics?
Possible cellular toxicity or inflammation and endocrine disruption.
What is one benefit of recycling plastics?
Reduces landfill waste and conserves natural resources.
How long can plastics take to decompose in landfills?
Hundreds to thousands of years.
What is one way microplastics enter the human food chain?
The most common source of microplastics in food is seafood.
What makes nanoplastics more challenging than microplastics?
Their smaller size means that they are more easily transported over long distances and into more diverse environments than microplastics.
Name 2 challenges in recycling plastics?
Contamination, sorting challenges, the amount of water and electricity needed during the recycling processes.
What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?
A large area in the Pacific Ocean where plastic debris accumulates.
What are the most common microplastics in the environment?
They are microfibers or plastic fragments shaped like tiny threads or filaments. Microfibers come from many sources: cigarette butts, fishing nets and ropes, and synthetic fabrics.
How do nanoplastics differ from microplastics in terms of their behavior in the environment?
Nanoplastics can easily pass through biological membranes and may accumulate in organisms.
Why is circular recycling the best way?
Different types of plastic are often combined in manufacturing processes, which makes recycling them much more difficult. This often leads to plastics being incinerated, which is a major waste of valuable resources. We have the tools and knowledge to create circular recycling for plastics. From product design to waste sorting and collection, we can keep more plastic in circulation.