Plastic is made from crude oil and polymers that are combined into chains called polymers. Plastic is found in many everyday products despite only being around for 100 years. To recycle plastic, it must be sorted by type, baled, shredded, washed, and melted down to make new plastic products. If not recycled, plastic will end up in landfills or as litter in the environment, where it will remain indefinitely since it does not biodegrade.

1. PlasticPlastic
Is it a wonder material, or is it….Is it a wonder material, or is it….
EVIL!EVIL!

2. Even though plastics are only about 100Even though plastics are only about 100
years old, today we find themyears old, today we find them
everywhere. What are some of theeverywhere. What are some of the
products we find plastic in?products we find plastic in?

3. What is plastic made from?What is plastic made from?

4. Crude OilCrude Oil

5. Molecules from the oil are arrangedMolecules from the oil are arranged
into chains, called POLYMERSinto chains, called POLYMERS
 How the polymers areHow the polymers are
combined depends oncombined depends on
what type of plastic iswhat type of plastic is
mademade
 Because theBecause the
polymers are differentpolymers are different
for different plastics,for different plastics,
we must sort them inwe must sort them in
order to recycle them.order to recycle them.

6. How is plasticHow is plastic
recycled?recycled?

7. Plastic is sorted by type and baledPlastic is sorted by type and baled

8. The sorted plastic is then sent to aThe sorted plastic is then sent to a
processor where it is shredded andprocessor where it is shredded and
washedwashed

9. The plastic flakes orThe plastic flakes or
pellets are then meltedpellets are then melted
down and made into newdown and made into new
productsproducts

10. What happens to plasticWhat happens to plastic
if it is not recycled?if it is not recycled?

11. It ends up in a landfill, or as litter inIt ends up in a landfill, or as litter in
the land or sea, where it will remainthe land or sea, where it will remain
indefinitelyindefinitely

12. ……because plastic does notbecause plastic does not
biodegradebiodegrade