1. Deposing of Plastics

2. When items made from polymers are finished with they will need to be disposed of.
The traditional method of dealing with waste is to 'land fill' it, this involves dumping waste in a hole in the ground

3. polymers are not biodegradable
The problem is many
polymers are not biodegradable

4. This means they are not broken down by microorganisms
If dropped as litter then it will remain there until picked up as it will not rot
The alternatives are to:
Incinerate the plastic
Recycle them

5. If the plastics are incinerated the heat produced can be used to generate electricity
Although potentially toxic waste gasses need to be contained and dealt with
Also Carbon Dioxide will be released

6. The best way to deal with waste polymers is to recycle them
This is an expensive option as polymers need to be:
Collected
and
Separated

7. To aid sorting many plastic items have a recycling code on them

8. Polyethylene Terephthalate
Plastic bottles,
ovenable prepared food trays
High Density Poly(e)thene
Carrier bags, Yoghurt pots, milk bottles, margarine tubs, cereal box liners
Vinyl
(Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC)
Clear packaging, medical tubing, wire and cable insulation, window frames, drain points
Low Density Poly(e)thene
Dry cleaning, bread and frozen food bags, squeezable bottles, e.g. honey, mustard.
Polypropylene
Yogurt containers and margarine tubs, medicine bottles
Polystyrene
Compact disc jackets, meat trays, egg cartons, aspirin bottles, cups, plates, cutlery.
Other or Combination

9. Despite the extra effort needed to recycle polymers…
… it does have the benefit of reducing the consumption of crude oil
This will allow crude oil reserves to last longer