Alexei Volkov
Plastic is everywhere, from food packaging to clothes, drinks bottles, computers, and phones. It is versatile, durable, and convenient, but it is also a major contributor to waste and pollution. With an estimated 242 million tonnes of plastic waste generated globally in 2016, plastic waste is a pressing environmental concern. This is because plastic does not easily rot or biodegrade, persisting in the environment for hundreds of years and causing harm to wildlife. To address this, we can reduce our plastic consumption, reuse plastic items, and recycle them. Recycling involves taking plastic waste, sorting it, shredding it, and using it to make new things, such as sports bottles, carpets, and clothing. Recycling is challenging and expensive, but it helps to reduce waste, minimise the need for new plastic production, and promote sustainability.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic waste in 2016 | 242 million tonnes |
| Plastic in the ocean each year | 8 million tonnes |
| Average waste produced per person in Europe | 1.69 kg per day |
| Average waste produced per person in Europe per year | 620 kg |
| Northern Ireland waste collected by councils | 275,759 tonnes |
| Northern Ireland waste sent to landfill | 24% |
| Northern Ireland waste recycled | 53% |
| Northern Ireland waste used for energy recovery | 22% |
| Plastic decomposition time | Hundreds of years |
| Plastic decomposition time for a plastic bag | Hundreds of years |
| Plastic decomposition time for a multicoloured plastic banana | Hundreds of years |
| Plastic types that can be recycled | Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET/PETE), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) (some), Polypropylene (PP) (some) |
| Plastic types that cannot be recycled | Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC/PVC-U), Polystyrene or Styrofoam (PS), Polyethylene (PE) (some) |
| Plastic reduction alternatives | Shopping bags made from cloth or paper, toothbrushes made from bamboo, clothes made from natural fibres |
| Plastic reuse examples | Using a plastic drinking bottle as a planter |
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What You'll Learn
Why recycling is important
Recycling is important as it helps to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, which can cause significant environmental problems. Landfills produce around 5% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change. By recycling, we can also reduce the need for new plastic production, which requires non-renewable resources such as oil, gas, and coal. Recycling helps to conserve these finite resources and reduce our reliance on them.
Additionally, recycling plays a crucial role in protecting our oceans and marine life. Every year, eight million tonnes of plastic enter the world's oceans, posing a severe threat to wildlife. Plastic does not easily biodegrade and can take hundreds of years to decompose, leading to long-lasting pollution. Recycling plastic helps to reduce this pollution and prevents wildlife from becoming entangled or ingesting plastic waste.
Recycling is also important as it encourages a more sustainable lifestyle and circular economy. A circular economy involves using waste as raw materials and reducing the consumption of new resources. By recycling, we can give new life to old materials and decrease the demand for virgin resources. This shift in mindset promotes sustainability and reduces our environmental impact.
Furthermore, recycling is a powerful tool in waste management. On average, each person in Europe produces 1.69 kilograms of waste per day, amounting to 620 kilograms per year. By recycling, we can significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or incinerators. Recycling also complements waste reduction and reuse efforts, forming the Three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Together, these practices help to minimise waste generation and promote responsible consumption.
Overall, recycling is important because it helps to address environmental issues, conserve resources, protect wildlife, promote sustainability, and effectively manage waste. By participating in recycling, we can make a positive impact on the planet and contribute to a greener and more responsible future.
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The recycling process
Recycling plastic specifically can be done at a recycling centre, where plastic waste is sorted, shredded, and used to make new things. This process can be expensive and difficult, but it is important for reducing plastic waste and the need to create new plastic.
Some types of plastic are more commonly recycled than others. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET/PETE) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) are two examples of plastics that are widely recycled. PET/PETE is often found in bottles, food packaging, and clothing, and is frequently recycled into sportswear. HDPE is used in a variety of products, including toys, shampoo bottles, pens, and milk bottles, and is widely recycled.
On the other hand, Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polystyrene or Styrofoam (PS) are types of plastic that are not as commonly recycled. LDPE is used in containers and packaging such as cling film and plastic bags, while PP is found in a wide range of items like food tubs and disposable face masks. PS is used in packaging, disposable cups and plates, and takeaway containers, and is rarely recycled.
Overall, the recycling process plays a crucial role in reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainability. By reusing and recycling plastic items, we can help reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and the environment, contributing to a more circular economy.
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Different types of plastic
There are about 50 main types of plastic, and they are used because they are cheap, lightweight, durable, mouldable, and decorative. They are bad for the environment and contribute to global warming and climate change.
Some common types of plastic include Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET/PETE), which is found in bottles, food packaging, and clothing and is widely recycled. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is used for toys, shampoo bottles, pens, and milk bottles and is widely recycled. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC/PVC-U) is used for rigid things like furniture, windows, and piping, as well as softer things like cling film and beach balls. Most PVC cannot be recycled.
Polystyrene or Styrofoam (PS) is used for packaging and insulation and is found in disposable cups and plates, car parts, and takeaway containers. PS is not commonly recycled. Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is used for containers and packaging such as cling film, bubble wrap, and plastic bags.
There is also an OTHER category that covers items that don't fit into the previous six plastic types. Examples include sports bottles, CDs/DVDs, some electrical wiring, and reading glasses. OTHER products are not commonly recycled.
Acrylic plastics are cheap, versatile, and easy to colour, but they can be very harmful to the environment. Thermoplastics are the most commonly used type of plastic and can be heated, moulded, and reheated back to their original shape. Thermosetting plastics are resistant to heat, electricity, and chemical damage, making them ideal for circuit boards, but they cannot be reshaped or recycled.
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Reducing plastic use
Plastic is a significant contributor to climate change and poses a serious danger to marine life. It is therefore important to reduce our plastic use. Here are some ways to do so:
Refuse single-use plastics
Single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, straws, cups, plates, and utensils, are used just once and then discarded, but they can take hundreds of years to decompose. Make it a habit to refuse these items whenever possible. Bring your own reusable bags, cups, and utensils when you're on the go, and opt for reusable straws or no straw at all. Say no to plastic beverage bottles, cling wrap, sandwich bags, and non-recyclable coffee cups.
Reduce your plastic consumption
Buy products with little to no packaging. Purchase bulk foods, liquids, and cleaners and store them in your own refillable containers at home. Avoid plastic produce bags by using reusable cloth bags or no bag at all. Choose products in non-plastic packaging, such as a glass jar of honey instead of a plastic bear bottle.
Reuse items
Before buying new plastic items, consider if you can reuse something you already have. For example, reuse water bottles instead of constantly buying new ones. You can also buy second-hand plastic items, such as toys, from thrift stores or online. For items you rarely need, consider borrowing or renting instead of buying new. Donate or sell your unwanted plastic items that are still in good shape, so others can reuse them too.
Recycle plastic
When you can't avoid plastic packaging, look for alternatives that can be reused and infinitely recycled, such as glass jars and bottles, or aluminum cans and foil. Check the symbols on plastic items to identify the type of plastic and determine if it can be recycled by your local program. Recycle plastic bags, wrap, and film through special programs, as they cannot go in your household recycling bin.
Buy recycled
When possible, purchase products made from recycled plastic materials, such as bubble wrap containing recycled plastic. This helps to ensure that the plastic that has already been produced is being reused, reducing the need for new plastic production.
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Reusing plastic
Plastic is a significant contributor to environmental pollution, especially in oceans, rivers, and lakes. It is made to last forever, yet 33% of all plastic is used once and thrown away. Plastic does not biodegrade, and it can take hundreds of years to decompose. It is, therefore, important to reuse plastic items.
One way to reuse plastic is to replace single-use items such as straws, cups, and bags with reusable options. For example, carry a reusable straw and a travel mug or thermos with you. You can also use biodegradable or reusable cutlery made from bamboo, which can be washed and reused. When grocery shopping, bring your own bags and avoid the plastic bags provided for loose produce and prepackaged vegetables. Choose glass, paper, or cardboard packaging over plastic.
Plastic bottles can be reused in a variety of ways. They can be cut and arranged to make a hanging garden or mounted on a garden wall. They can also be used to store extra paint or to make a crunchy toy for your dog by putting a bottle inside an old sock and tying off each end. Plastic containers can be used to store cords and chargers or to keep receipts organised.
You can also get creative and make new items out of plastic. For example, you can crochet or knit a grocery bag out of old plastic bags, or fuse plastic bags together with parchment paper and an iron to create plastic material.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic is useful, and we use it every day. It's found in games, clothes, drinks bottles, bags, computers, phones, food trays, signs, pipes, and more. However, it is also challenging to break down, and it can take hundreds of years to decompose. If plastic ends up in rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans, it can harm wildlife. Eight million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans annually, contributing to pollution and damaging the environment.
Recycling is one way to dispose of plastic. It involves taking waste plastic, sorting it, shredding it, and using it to make new things. However, recycling can be expensive and energy-intensive. Other options include reusing plastic items and reducing plastic consumption.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET/PETE) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) are widely recycled. PET/PETE is often used for bottles, food packaging, and clothing, while HDPE is used for toys, shampoo bottles, pens, and milk bottles. Some types of plastic, like Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polypropylene (PP), and Polystyrene or Styrofoam (PS), are not commonly recycled or cannot be recycled.
Recycling plastic helps reduce waste and the need to create new plastic. It also helps preserve finite resources and prevent pollution caused by burning plastics or sending them to landfill sites, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
We can reduce our plastic consumption by switching to alternative materials. For example, shopping bags can be made from cloth or paper, toothbrushes from bamboo, and clothes from natural fibres. We can also reuse plastic items instead of constantly buying new ones.
