1. Disposing Plastics L.O: To understand the environmental impact of using polymers for plastics

2. How many words can you make from Poly (ethyleneterephtalate) Double points for scientific words!

3. Make a list of anything made of plastic which you have thrown away in the last few days e.g. wrapper for a magazine

4. Disposal of plastics Most polymers are resistant to acids, saltwater and microbes so don’t breakdown. They are difficult to dispose of 1) Polymers can be disposed of on landfill sites but will not degrade. 2) Burning is another disposal method but this releases carbon dioxide 3) Recycling is the best option as it reduces the amount of energy and raw materials to make new, but difficult because of the different types of plastic

5. What are the alternatives? http://espresso/espresso/clipbank/ser vlet/link?template=vid&macro=setResou rce&resourceID=3378

6. What are the alternatives?  Bioplastics made from natural materials such as corn starch.  Biodegradable plastics made from traditional oil products, which are engineered to break down more quickly (usually with exposure to light and oxygen). Bioplastics can be broken down by microbes BUT: -They will not breakdown on landfill and have to be composted - they are expensive -They can’t be recycled

7. Group task Read through the articles on bio and biodegradable plastics. Decide in your group whether the government should encourage use of the plastics. In your group write a letter to the government about the use of bioplastics. You should include reasons for and agianst.

8. Are biodegradable bags a good idea? BBC News: May 2006 All Tesco bags 'to be degradable' Tesco will replace conventional plastic bags with degradable onesSupermarket giant Tesco has said all its carrier bags will be degradable from September. The bags break down in as little as 60 days into materials such as carbon dioxide and water with no harmful residue, unlike plastic bags. The firm hopes a billion fewer plastic bags a year will be used in a bid for it to be more environmentally-friendly. The Co-op first introduced degradable bags in 2002 and Sainsbury's have trialled compostable bags.