Transcript CHap 19.2 ES

Ch. 19.2: Reducing Solid
Waste
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A. Reduce…
If we produce less waste, we will
reduce the expense and difficulty of
collecting and disposing of it.
Mostly common sense techniques
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A. Reduce…
Buying Less
Products with less packaging
Not using unnecessary store bags
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B. …Reuse…
Buying products that last longer
Dish towels instead of paper towels
The old coke glass bottles that were
returned to the store, washed, and
reused.
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C. …Recycle
Also saves
energy and
resources
Ex. 95% less
energy is needed
to produce
aluminum from
recycled cans
than from ore.
Ex. 70% less
energy for paper
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C. …Recycle
A series of steps
1) Items must be
collected and
sorted
2) Transport to
separate facilities
3) Cleaning
4) Breakdown and
remade
5) Sold as new
products
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C. …Recycle
Composting
Yard and kitchen waste make up 15% of
a community’s solid waste
All biodegradable
After breaking down, compost can be
used as fertilizer
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C. …Recycle
Degradable Plastics
Photodegradable plastic – made so that
when it is left in the sun for many weeks,
it becomes brittle and breaks into
pieces.
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C. …Recycle
Degradable Plastics
Green plastic – Made by blending plant sugars
with a special chemical agent.
Requires 20-50% less fossil fuels
Degrades within 45 days of being thrown away
(bacteria break it down)
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C. …Recycle
Degradable Plastics
Problems – These only break down into
smaller pieces, but these pieces can still
remain as long as regular plastics.
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