Plastic Pollution: The Plastic Palace
Plastic pollution is the material we use to build our Plastic Palaces. Palaces built with"ANTI-BIODEGRADABLE" material, plastic. Our homes pulsate with plastic items. I went on a fact-finding mission, a hunt for plastic creatures and I challenge you to do the same. Get up and walk around the house counting each item you see made from plastic. In my office alone, I counted 50 different objects made from plastic. I really got tired of counting. The plastic palaces lived in by humans literally bulge with man made anti-biodegradable plastic.
Plastic everywhere, oh me, the plastic is taking over and ruling the world. Run, as fast as you can and hide from the plastic invasion before the plastic monster wraps its slippery plastic fingers around your neck and strangles you to death. The refrigerator is full of plastic, bath rooms, kitchen, bedrooms everywhere I looked plastic glared at me with menacing eyes, cold eyes with no heart or concern for my well being. They hate animals with a passion. OK, maybe a little too much drama. The truth is I found plastic in abundance all through the house. Work together to stop plastic pollution.
A Closer Look at the Plastic Palace
Plastic everywhere, oh me, the plastic is taking over and ruling the world. Run, as fast as you can and hide from the plastic invasion before the plastic monster wraps its slippery plastic fingers around your neck and strangles you to death.We are going to take a closer look at plastic. I didn't realize there is much plastic in the world and different types of plastic to boot. Some plastic can be recycled. Here is the kicker; there are some plastics, which cannot be recycled. Wow, that is unreal. In this discussion we will look at the different types of plastics; the harm plastic does to our world and the solution to this major problem. Oh yeah, I forgot we will take a look at those little, I mean little bitty, almost invisible numbers on the bottom of plastic bottles. I think it is a waste of time putting the numbers on the bottom of a bottle. Who turns up a bottle and looks at those little numbers, you can't read, anyway? Plastic pollution can be stopped!
Plastic Pollution: The Good, Bad and Ugly Facts
What is plastic made from and why do we need so much of the stuff? For the answer, let's turn to the wise geek. Mr. Wise Geek please explains to us what plastic is made from. Mr. Wise Geek give us your wisdom."In order to answer the question of "how is plastic made", it is important to define plastic itself. Plastic is one form of polymers that are composed of a long chain or line of smaller molecules that are known as monomers. Monomers themselves are made of atoms that are usually extracted from natural or organic substances, and are generally classified as petrochemicals. All sorts of monomers can be utilized in the creation of plastic. Crude oil and natural gas are often the source of some of these elements, which include monomers such as styrene, vinyl chloride, and vinyl acetate. "Thanks Mr. Wise Geek now tell us a little more about plastic.The geek goes on to tell us, "Polymers are created by forming a series of chains or strings of monomers. Processing the polymers in one of two methods results in the formation of plastic. With the thermosetting method, liquid monomers are poured into a mold and allowed to cool. The liquefied monomers are permanent in shape, producing durable goods. With the thermoplastic approach, the liquid monomers are heated and slowly molded into shape. After the heating and manipulation into the desired shape, the product is cooled and allowed to set into a solid. Both the thermoplastic and the thermosetting approaches are referred to as polymerization." Stop the plastic pollution.
Plastic Pollution: Wise Geek
Ok did you get all that information? What I heard "Made from Oil". Gosh, what isn't made from oil? Anyways, now that we know what is made from why is plastic so important?Why in the modern world is plastic so cotton picking important? Well, I am glad you ask the question, let me give you a few simple reasons, "plastic is multifaceted, lightweight, bendable, moisture resistant, sturdy, strong and relatively inexpensive. It can be chemical resistant, clear or opaque, and practically unbreakable. These are wonderful useful qualities, and plastic plays many important roles in life on Earth, but the widespread use of plastic is also causing unprecedented environmental problems, and harbors serious health risks - especially for children. Plastic should be used wisely, with caution and only when suitable alternatives do not exist or are not available.Plastic Pollution is wrong.
INTERESTING NOTE ABOUT PLASTIC BAGS
Plastic pollution is avoidable.Plastic bags start as crude oil, natural gas, or other petrochemical derivatives, which are transformed into chains of hydrogen and carbon molecules known as polymers or polymer resin. After being heated, shaped, and cooled, the plastic is ready to be flattened, sealed, punched, or printed on. The first plastic "baggies" for bread, sandwiches, fruits, and vegetables were introduced in the United States in 1957. Plastic trash bags started appearing in homes and along curb-sides around the world by the late 1960s. North America and Western Europe account for nearly 80 percent of plastic bag use-though the bags are increasingly common in developing countries as well. A quarter of the plastic bags used in wealthy nations are now produced in Asia. Each year, Americans throw away some 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags. (Only 0.6 percent of plastic bags are recycled.) The Irish have been known to call the ever-present bags their "national flag"; South Africans have dubbed them the "national flower."
Plastic Bags World Watch
Different Types of Plastic
To make things a little more complicated there happens to be many types of plastic. SymbolCodeName and Examples PETPOLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE: Fizzy drink bottles, squash bottles, mineral water bottles, fruit and vegetable punnets, fabric softener bottles and oven-ready meal trays. HDPEHIGH DENSITY POLYETHEYLENE: Bottles for milk, cosmetics, shampoo, washing detergent and cleaning products. PVCPOLYVINYL CHLORIDE: Bottles for squash, olive oil and some food trays. LDPELOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE: Carrier bags, bin liners and other types of plastic wrap. Toothpaste & cosmetics tubes. PPPOLYPROPYLENE: Margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays. PSPOLYSTYRENE: Yoghurt pots. Please see the note below about different types of polystyrene. OTHERANY OTHER PLASTICS: That do not fall into any of the above categories. An example is melamine, which is often used in plastic trays, plates and cups. These are the little, unreadable symbols on the bottom of your bottles. Come on if you are gong to make plastic recycling a reality put the numbers in a readable place. We make our own all natural cleaning products and we use recyclable and reusable bottles. I believe reusable is one solution to the plastic problem. Avoid plastic pollution!
General Store
What Types of Plastics Can Be Recycled?
To help identify and sort recyclable plastic, the American Society of Plastics Industry developed a standard code, a code used in places other than the United States as well. This code simply identifies the type of plastic used to make that object. It does not indicate whether recyclable plastic was used to make that piece, nor does it indicate whether that type of plastic can be recycled. The code, generally located on the bottom of the plastic container, consists of three arrows that cycle clockwise and create a triangle with rounded corners. Inside each triangle is a number that identifies that plastic's type. Below each triangle is a combination of letters that correspond to the identifying number located inside the triangle.There are seven different types of plastic identified by the American Society of Plastics Industry: Is this getting boring? I am just about to stop with the numbers thing. However, I think it is important to know what the dang things are made of, don't you. After all our mouths, touch many of these products. You mean to tell me I drink from plyethylene bottles. Yeah, you do. 1. PET or PETE (Polyethylene terephthalate). This is one of the most frequently recycled plastics by consumers. Containers marked with a "1" include some soft drink bottles, water bottles, plastic peanut butter jars, plastic wrap, and salad dressing bottles. 2. HDPE (High-density polyethylene) This type of recyclable plastic, marked with a "2," is also frequently recycled by consumers. Plastics included in this category include some plastic milk cartons, juice bottles, shampoo bottles, and liquid detergent containers. 3. PVC (Polyvinyl chloride). This type of recyclable plastic, marked by a "3," is less commonly accepted at local recycling centers. It includes some clear food packages, liquid detergent containers, and many construction applications including some traffic cones. 4. LDPE (Low density polyethylene). Marked with a "4," this type of recyclable plastic, is used in some bread and frozen food bags, trash cans, and garbage can liners. 5. PP (Polypropylene). Another plastic commonly used in the automobile and construction industries, plastics marked with a "5" that are also recyclable include some car battery casings, oil funnels, and plastic drinking straws.PIC of Staw 6. PS (Polystyrene). Also an uncommon consumer type of recyclable plastic, this type of plastic, marked by a "6," includes some packing foam, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toys. 7. Other. Some types of plastic marked as "other" or with a "7" can not be recycled as they commonly are made with a combination of the previous six types of plastic, or with a type of plastic other than the six listed above. Containers marked with a "7" that are recyclable plastic include some 3 to 5 gallon reusable water bottles. You can't recycle water bottles but you drink the water from the bottle? Duh, doesn't make sense. Stop plastic pollution today.
Wise Geek
Gabby uses Cloth
Stop Plastic Pollution today.On a lighter note, this little girl, "Gabriela Espinoza" is my next-door neighbor and she is holding two cloth bags. You know, it is easier to take your own bags shopping, cloth bags than to use paper or plastic. I hate paper because it always tears. You can't put much in them and if the items are heavy the sacks are hard to carry. Plastic makes carrying easy but you have to use 15 million of the dang things to get a small load of groceries home. How many times have you had a bagger put one item in one bag? Yeah, OK, cloth is easier and it sure is a lot safer to you and the environment. Avoid plastic pollution use cloth bags. Save our environment stop plastic pollution.
To Kill a Sea Gull
How many of you would shoot a Sea Gull? Maybe some of you might but most of us would never kill a beautiful Sea Gull on purpose. Every time a plastic bag is throw along the road or discarded in other ways the possibility of killing a helpless animal exist. I think it would be impossible to put a number on how many animals die directly from plastic but the number is high. Plastic pollution is killing wild life. Read this report:
Safe for Wild Life
The Truth
It is going to take years to repair the damage from plastic pollution. It might take centuries but unless we recognize the problem and take action today, the future is grime. A change begins with a decision. Change takes an act of your will. Do you believe it is time to change the way you use plastic? Unless you see the need for change, you never will. We can change this problem but it will take a collective effort of concerned individuals to make a dent in the problem. The only way to stop big business is for each of us to stop using the darn plastics. Start with using cloth to go shopping. Each time you go to the store, take your own cloth bag and whistle at each person who is using plastic. No, kidding about the whistling but the change starts with one person and another and after a while, the world will join in the change. We can stop plastic pollution if we believe we can.
Save Your Panty & the Planet By Recycling Plastic Bags
This is a great article on recycling plastic bags. I highly recommend you read this today.
Recycling Plastic Bags...Great Information
Goggle has some information on this subject...just click on the links.
|
