Plastics by the Numbers

Recycling plastics, types of plastics, and the sorting of plastics

One Word: Plastics

• What comes to your mind when you hear the word plastic?

• How often do you use plastic water or soda bottles?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-wq9ZCQp4U

How many types of plastics are there?

Plastics by the Numbers• Work in pairs with equipment at work

station• SAFETY! –Acetone is FLAMABLE! Keep away

from the hot plate–Wear safety goggles at ALL times–Wear gloves when handling

acetone–Wash hands after handing acetone–Keep distance when boiling water–Don’t drink ANYTHING

After the Lab

• After you and your partner have completed the last table in the lab:1. Clean up station– Dispose of plastic and oil in garbage– Dispose of water and acetone in drain2. Get started on worksheet until all groups are

done– (Will be homework if not completed in class)

After-Lab Discussion

• Which test did most of you decide to do first? Why?

• Least amount of steps?

• How might the properties of these plastics affect their uses or safety?

Diverse Properties• Properties affect the use and safety of each

plastic type

Plastics to avoid:• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)– considered the most damaging of all plastics– releases carcinogenic dioxins into environment

when manufactured• Polystyrene (PS)– can leach styrene, a possible

human carcinogen

Safer Plastics!• PET, or polyethylene terephthalate

-considered among the safest plastics -but still not safe to use for water bottles!

• High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)– Used in some reusable sports bottles, but still leak some chemicals!

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BEST CHOICE FOR A WATER BOTTLE IS?

What can plastics be recycled into?

How are plastics sorted before recycling?

Still no good way other than manually Till the end of the class period, work on a classification key with

you partner to give to the workers at the recycling facility that would help them to easily classify unmarked plastics. You can work on it together, but make sure you are doing your own!

Keep in mind the characteristics of a good classification key that we talked about earlier!

Use the paper provided Will be due, with the worksheet, at the beginning of class on

Monday Extra credit: Type a paragraph about a new technique or

invention that are currently being implemented to aid in the SORTING of plastics