How can we prolong the use of nonrenewable resources?

What are nonrenewable resources? Exist in a fixed quantity Exist in a fixed quantity Can not be renewed within a human time scale (usually hundreds of thousands of years to millions of years to renew) Can not be renewed within a human time scale (usually hundreds of thousands of years to millions of years to renew) Include: Include: –Energy resources: coal, oil, natural gas –Metallic minerals: iron, copper, aluminum –Nonmetallic minerals: salt, clay, sand

How can we prolong the use of nonrenewable resources? Reduce Reduce Reuse Reuse Recycle Recycle Refuse Refuse

Reduce Using fewer resources Using fewer resources Examples: Examples: –Drive less (reduce consumption of gasoline) –Turn lights off (reduce consumption of electricity) –Buy fewer newspapers (reduce consumption of paper) –Use a refillable mug, instead of a single-use coffee cup (reduce consumption of paper or polystyrene) –What else?

Reuse Use a resource over and over again in the same form Use a resource over and over again in the same form Examples: Examples: –Use an old soda bottle as a water bottle –Use an old computer box to store your “Star Wars” collectibles –Use plastic grocery bags as trash bags –What else?

Recycle Reprocessing a resource into a new product Reprocessing a resource into a new product Examples: Examples: –Aluminum cans (recycled into new cans) –Paper (recycled into newspaper) –Plastic milk jugs (recycled into toys, fencing, etc.) JQYwF4VyiY JQYwF4VyiYhttp:// JQYwF4VyiY –What else?

Refuse Don’t use the resource altogether Don’t use the resource altogether Examples: Examples: –Don’t take free samples that you won’t use (t- shirts, pens, lanyards, etc.) –Don’t buy products that use non-recyclable or non-reusable materials –Bike or walk, rather than drive –What else?

Can it be recycled? Papers Papers 1.Tissues 2.Magazines 3.Phone books 4.Milk cartons 5.Newspapers 6.Paper bags 7.Big Mac wrappers 8.Post-it notes 9.Books (with covers) 10.Cardboard 11.Cereal boxes

Can it be recycled? Glass Glass 1.Window glass 2.Drinking glasses 3.Drink bottles 4.Mirrors 5.Light bulbs 6.Brown glass ** Don’t forget to rinse your glass and remove any lids **

Can it be recycled? Metals Metals 1.Aluminum cans 2.Tin cans 3.Aluminum foil 4.Aluminum food trays 5.Metal scraps 6.Hangers ** Don’t forget to rinse your glass and flatten when possible **

Can it be recycled? Plastics Plastics 1.Soda bottles 2.Yogurt containers 3.Tupperware/Gladware 4.Mustard containers (squeezable) 5.Cutlery (knives, forks, spoons) 6.Milk jugs 7.Cups (ex: Solo) 8.CDs and DVDs 9.Plastic grocery bags 10.Styrofoam cups 11.Plastic toy ** Don’t forget to rinse your plastic and remove any lids **

Polyethylene TerephthalatePolyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETE) Soft drink, water, and salad dressing bottles High Density PolyethyleneHigh Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Milk, juice and water bottles; trash and retail bags Polyvinyl ChloridePolyvinyl Chloride (V) Juice bottles; cling films; PVC piping; outdoor furniture; house siding Low Density Polyethylene Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Frozen food bags; dry- cleaning bags; squeezable bottles, e.g. honey, mustard PolypropylenePolypropylene (PP) Straws; yogurt containers; disposable cups and plates. PolystyrenePolystyrene (PS) Egg cartons; packing peanuts; disposable cups, plates, trays and cutlery; Other (often polycarbonate or ABS) polycarbonateABS Beverage bottles; baby milk bottles; electronic casing; TupperWare; Nalgene