IMPORTANCE OF PLASTIC 72 Suruchi Waghode 8B

RECYCLING
 WHAT IS PLASTIC?
 A manmade material showing the property of plasticity and
made up of Organic polymers is plastic
 structure of plastic is not same some are linear while some are
circular
 TYPES OF PLASTIC

Thermoplastic Thermosetting plastic

 THERMOPLASTIC
i. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) - Bottles, raincoat, pipes,
handbags, shoes, electric cable insulation, furniture,
ropes, toys, etc.
ii. Polystyrene (PS) - Thermo-insulating parts of electric
appliances like refrigerators, gears of machines, toys,
protective coverings like covers of CD and DVD, etc.
iii. Polyethylene (PE) Milk bags, packing bags, flexible
garden pipes, etc.
iv. Polypropylene (PP) Parts of loudspeakers & vehicles,
ropes, mattresses, laboratory appliances, etc.
 THERMOSETTING PLASTIC
i. Bakelite - Cabinets of radio, T.V., telephones, electric
switches, toys, coverings over handles of cookers, etc.
ii. Melamine - Domestically useful items like cup –
saucers, plates, trey, some spare parts of airplane
engines, electric and sound insulating coverings, etc.
iii. Polyurethane Surfing boards, small boats, furniture,
seats in vehicles, etc.
iv. Polyester - Fiber glass, toners of laser printers, textile
industry, etc.
 EACH RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN SHOULD
FOLLOW THE 4R PRINCIPLE; I.E.
1. REDUCE- MINIMAL USE
2. REUSE- USE AGAIN
3. RECYCLE- USE AGAIN AFTER PROCESSING
4. RECOVER- RECLAIMING
THEN ONLY WE CAN SAVE THE
ENVIRONMENT
FROM POLLUTION.
DIFFERENTIATE THERMOPLASTIC & THERMOSETTING
PLASTIC:

i. Thermoplastic can be reshaped i. Thermosetting Plastic can not

and reused.
ii. Thermoplastic is soft, weak
and less brittle.
iii. Thermoplastics are solvent in
organic compounds.
iv. Examples are PVC, Nylon.
be reshaped.
ii. This is hard and strong
plastics.
iii. But it is not. It is insolvent.
iv. Plaskon is another example of
thermosetting Plastics.
 WHY SHOULD WE RECYCLE
PLASTIC?
i. Recycling plastics has never been easier. More than 60
percent of Americans have easy access to a plastics
recycling program, whether they participate in a municipal
curbside program or live near a drop-off site.
ii. A universal numbering system for plastic types makes it
even easier.
iii. According to the American Plastics Council, more than
1,800 U.S. businesses handle or reclaim post-consumer
plastics.
iv. In addition, many grocery stores now serve as recycling
collection sites for collection of bags and plastic wrap.
Plastic recycling process
BENEFITS OF PLASTIC
RECYCLING
i. Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and
incinerators.
ii. Conserves natural resources such as timber, water
and minerals.
iii. Increases economic security by tapping a domestic source of
materials.
iv. Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw
materials.
v. Saves energy.
DISADVANTAGES OF PLASTIC:
i. They are non renewable resources.
ii. They produce toxic fumes when burnt.
iii. They are low heat resistant and poor ductility.
iv. They are non biodegradable.
v. They harm the environment by choking the drains.
vi. The poisonous gaseous product produced by the
decomposition plastic can causes CANCER.
 WHAT CAN THEY BECOME WHEN THEY
RECYCLED
i. When they are recycled they can make new
bottles and containers, plastic lumber, picnic
tables, lawn furniture, playground
equipment, recycling bins and more.
ii. We use plastic bags to carry home groceries.
iii. They keep our bread and other food fresh.
 WHY DOES PLASTIC TAKE SO LONG TO
DEGRADE?
i. Most plastics in use today are made of
polyethylene terephthalate, or PET for
short, and are nearly indestructible.
ii. It is nearly impossible
to decompose PET plastics because most
bacteria cannot break them down.
iii. UV light from the sun can
break plastic down, but
it takes a long time.