Plastic: PP #5

by Emily Mejia, Danielle

Gonzalez and Karen
Arellano

Period 2
5/31/22
 Information on PP #5
PP #5 or polypropylene plastic is a heat-resistant and light plastic that
can be found in packaging such as kitchenware, disposable cutlery and
plates, plastic bottle caps and more. PP #5 is similar to PET, HDPE, and
LDPE but the difference is that PP #5 has a higher melting point. This
material is useful because it helps humans hold this plastic even when
it's hot. Even though this plastic is microwave safe, these types of plastic
can cause harm to humans such asthma, and more. Polypropylene
takes about 20 to 30 years to decompose and its chemicals can spread
through the environment.
 Chemistry of Pp #5
Polypropylene is made up of ethane, propane, butane, and the naphtha
which is found in petroleum. This material is a synthetic resin built up and
an important family of polyolefin resins. Polypropylene is a gaseous
compound and is a part of a class of hydrocarbons. This plastic can be
made in low temperatures. Its melting point is at about 170 °C.
Polypropylene is water resistant but it is not an important apparel fibre.
Even though this plastic is safe for humans, it can cause some harm to the
planet.

Chemical Structure: CH2=CHCH3

 Current uses/ Multi-use or single use?
Polypropylene is considered to be a multi-use plastic as it can be
used for a copious amount of things. From flower pots, kids toys,
bottle caps, disposable plates/cups, rope, sunglasses, furniture, and
automotive parts this plastic is used for quite anything and
everything possible. Like Pablo Picasso once said, "if you can image it
is real." This is a result of it's "good chemical and moisture
resistance" and also because "it's lightweight and strong" material
 All about CRV
CRV stands for California Refund Value. It´s a program where
consumers get paid when they recycle beverage containers or
any type of plastics.
If one container is under 24 ounces it costs 5 cents for each. If a
container is higher than 24 ounces it costs 10 cents for each.
Since CRV was built, billions of plastics, glass, and containers have
been recycled so it was a good way to help motivate people to
recycle.
Recycled plastics are sorted into sections of what kind of plastics
they are. Once they are sorted out they are melted down to the
size of a grain of rice.
 The Future of Plastics and Recycling

According to our findings on the future of plastics, much of what is believed to come isn’t so
positive. For decades the mass production of plastics has just been an issue that would just
hopefully be resolved in the future by recycling. While plastic is known to be a threat to the
oceans health, our health and the environment as a whole there have been two main
alternatives to neutralize the issue but as consumerreports.org states, “these alternatives are
not likely to solve the plastic problem anytime soon.” Also as reported on the same website and
article, “Experts say that recycling with a chemical process is not economically viable.” So what
waits for us in the future doesn’t seem so feasible and seems too bright in general as it is also
believed that “oceanic plastic will outweigh all the fish in the sea by 2050” so who knows what
negative effects there will be for us humans since recycling can”t fix the issue on its own.