Separation Before Plastic Recycling

Students are challenged to investigate the physical and chemical properties of plastics and use them to design a system that could be used to separate them. 1st year chemistry students use density for separation, students gathered...

First, young chemists practice polymer identification by density and flame tests. With the data collected, they propose a method of separating polyethylene from other plastics and determine what property makes it desirable for recycling....

Students review the garbage/landfill graphs included with the lesson plan. They discuss the information on the graphs and discuss which garbage products come from their homes. Students collect examples of over packaging to share with...

Some plastics market as green, but are they really? Turns out, the question is a complicated one. A video lesson describes how these new plastics may have some decomposing properties but need a little boost from industry. The lesson...

Why do we recycle industrial waste? Zubera, a chemical engineer helps find ways to recover precious metals from industrial waste so the United States can decrease its reliance on other countries for the metals. Learners discover her...

This site is loaded with information on solid waste and hazardous waste. It includes industries' effects on the environment, waste programs, treatment, control, pollution prevention, recycling, and cleanup programs.

How do green plastics reduce waste and environmental pollution? Budding scientists create and test a variety of compounds used in green plastics during an insightful experiment. Beginning with startling statistics and ending with...

Find out how waste can be recycled and what you can do to aid recycling efforts in your community. With complete overviews of the types of materials that can be recycled: e-waste, paper and cardboard, metals, glass, plastics,...

Students will discover how to separate recycled goods by completing this hands-on science activity. Learn how physical properties are used to sort recyclable materials.

Show your class how to recycle during this simulation with polylactic acid. Pupils use a plastic cup, made of PLA, and convert it into a cleaning solution. They conclude the activity by using the newly made cleaning solution to...