1. Today’s Topic Plastic Recycling

2. Plastics have only been around for 100 years Saran Wrap was introduced by Dow Chemicals in 1953 Plastic are in cars, computers, phones, homes, hospitals, stores and more! Plastic is Everywhere Source: About.com © 2012 ECOS Education LLC

3. Americans Buy Bottled Water Americans buy more bottled water than any other country! We drink an average of 222 bottles of water per person per year or 4 bottles of water every week. Source: National Geographic Source: Container Recycling Institute © Dmitriy Shironosov | Dreamstime.comDmitriy Shironosov © 2012 ECOS Education LLC

4. We Throw Away Plastic Each day in the United States more than 60 million plastic water bottles are thrown away. Plastic makes up more than 12% of our garbage. Overall plastic recycling rate in the United States is only 8%. Source: Container Recycling Institute Source: National Geographic © fstockfoto | Dreamstime.comfstockfoto.com © 2012 ECOS Education LLC

5. Recycled Plastics Recycled plastic can be turned into furniture, decking, carpet, playgrounds, clothing and much more! Source: Playmart Playground EquipmentPlaymart Playground Equipment © 2012 ECOS Education LLC Source: United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

6. Recycled Playground http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtGNy9ySkqk © 2012 ECOS Education LLC

7. Plastics Never Decompose Plastic never actually breaks down - it just breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces that cause harm to our world Source: wiki.answers.comwiki.answers.com © Estike | Dreamstime.comEstiketime.com © 2012 ECOS Education LLC

8. Plastic Garbage Over 100 million marine animals die each year due to plastic garbage in the ocean. Many consume the plastic mistaking it for food. Read more: Source: Sea Turtle Conservancy Sea Turtle Conservancy © Eric Hinson | Dreamstime.comEric Hinsoncom © 2012 ECOS Education LLC

9. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8a4S23uXIcM © 2012 ECOS Education LLC

10. Plastic Bags Every year, the Unted States throws away100 billion plastic bags, which clutter landfills, clog drains, drift in the ocean and fill sea turtle bellies Ireland, Taiwan, South Africa, Australia, and Bangladesh have taxed or banned them Source: HowStuffWorksHowStuffWorksSource: National Geographic News National Geographic News © 2012 ECOS Education LLC

11. Plastic Bottles Recycling one plastic bottle can save enough energy to power a light bulb for 6 hours. Source: National Geographic KidsNational Geographic Kids © Artem Gorohov | Dreamstime.comArtem Gorohovm© Vlad Ivantcov | Dreamstime.comVlad Ivantcovm = © 2012 ECOS Education LLC

12. Challenge Questions © Madmaxer | Dreamstime.comMadmaxerme.com 1.What are ways that you could immediately take action to reduce your plastic consumption? Think about the things you buy, bring to lunch, what’s in your refrigerator, in your home and in your classroom. 2.How could you encourage others to do the same? 3.How is plastic valuable? How is it harmful? © 2012 ECOS Education LLC

13. Educate & Act™ Environmental Education Program Brought to you by ECOS Education LLC Educating Children On Sustainability For Classroom Use Only Version 1.0 © 2012 ECOS Education LLC