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Sustainability. Recycling & Water bottles. What do you know about recycling?. What do you want to know?. Did you know? “Recycling” . The definition of recycling is: to treat or process (used or waste materials) so as to make suitable for reuse
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Sustainability Recycling & Water bottles
Did you know?“Recycling” • The definition of recycling is: to treat or process (used or waste materials) so as to make suitable for reuse • In 2007 there was more than 254 million tons of municipal waste (meaning domestic waste) was collected. • 85 million of that was recycled or composted (made into organic material) • The amount of garbage we are producing in this country has tripled in 50 years, by 2060 the USA will produce nearly a billion tons of waste.
More about recycling • Glass is 100% recyclable • 25% is actually recycled • There are 10 million tons of glass left in waterways & wilderness • It takes 1000 years to biodegrade
50 million tons of paper is recycled • ½ of what paper products are produced • No recycling would result in 550 million trees a year • It takes more money to make products from scratch than recycled materials
Recycling cans/bottles/glass • Our classroom goal: To recycle your cans/bottles to raise money to purchase materials for our sustainability activity • Did you know ever can or bottle is 5 cents for you? • Glass is 100% recyclable
Why do we recycle cans? • Conserves natural resources • Saves energy • Contributes to the U.S. economy • Helps U.S. trade balance • Recycled metal from the United States is used for industrial manufacturing worldwide.
Why do we recycle plastic? • Plastics recycling conserves natural resources, saves energy, raises money for the USA (economy) • Recycled plastics is used in making many different products.
WATER BOTTLES • There are many negative things plastic water bottles have on the environment and even yourself • Here are some of the dangers to yourself
Negatives about refilling water bottles • Bacteria will grow – possibly enough to if it were tap water the water would need to be shut off • After a lot of use: carcinogens can migrate into liquid • These will hurt your liver, & cause reproduction problems • Cleaning will not help especially if with hot water & soap, just increase bacteria • To prevent this you can look at the resin code at the bottle of your water bottle
Plastic to look for in your water bottle • PET(or PETE): safe for one time use of a water bottle, refilling increases risk of chemicals • HDPE2: usually gallon jugs, not linked to leaching • PP%: easily molded, fewer chemicals, non-leaching
Chemicals • Some harmful chemicals in water bottles: • PVC: endocrine disrupters, human carcinogens • PS: leach styrene into food and water • Polycarbonate: hormone disrupter • Actually found in baby bottles, 5 gallon jugs, and reusable sports bottles • SOLUTIONS
USE: • Stainless steel water bottles – NON EPOXY finish • Glass water bottles are the best bottles to use • Good old fashion tap water • Water filters!!! • “Showtime television” – conducted a study: 75% of tested NYC residents preferred taste of tap over bottled water in a blind study.
Environmental issues because of water bottles • Roughly 1.5 million tons of plastic is used to create 89 million liters of water a year • World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) • Lots of fossil fuels are used to create this • 25% or more of bottled water is really just tap water in a bottle • Natural Resources Defense Council 1999
Negatives: • To produce water bottles: pollutes the air with VOC’s • Make their way into oceans, polluting water sea life • Use fossil fuels to produce water bottles • Like petroleum
Conclusion • Reuse products • Make organic materials you use into fertilizer, mulch, etc. • Use your own reusable bags • Sell or donate products you no longer use • RECYCLE • Used products made from recycled material • Use rechargeable batteries • Donate old or unwanted electronics