Impact of plastic on the Environment

Impact of
plastic on the
Environment

The Origin of plastic

In 1839, Charles Goodyear accidentally discovered a process called
vulcanization that created rubber material that was more elastic and
stronger. This material created by Charles Goodyear was also one of the
first polymer combinations to be discovered.

In 1846, Charles Schonbein, a chemist from Switzerland, discovered
nitrocellulose accidentally while spilling a mixture of nitric acid-sulfuric
acid on cotton.

In 1855, Alexander Parkes discovered Celluloid or commonly called
Parkesine, which is a mixture of cellulose nitrate and camphor/lime.
Celluloid or Parkesine is the first thermoplastic that has a flexible
character when exposed to heat and returns stiff when cold.

In 1907, Leo Hendrik

Baekeland, a Belgian born in

America created Bakelite, the

first synthetic polymer

created from a mixture of

phenol and formaldehyde.
In the 1930s, chemists from

Dupont named Wallace

Carruthers discovered a

combination of polymers

from adipic acid

condensation and certain

types of diaminohexane

monomers that could be

stretched and formed into

strong threads, similar to silk.

This ligAfter that, various

synthetic polymers and their

combinations with materials

began to be discovered, such

as silicon implants discovered

in 1962, PVC plastic types

found in 1969, HDPE type

plastic materials discovered

in 1970, also bioplastic

(plastic made from natural

resource and fairly easy to

degrade compared to

synthetic plastic) was first

discovered by Maurice

Lemoigne in 1926.htweight,

strong, and durable material

is known as Nylon.

After that, various synthetic polymers and their combinations with
materials began to be discovered, such as silicon implants discovered in
1962, PVC plastic types found in 1969, HDPE type plastic materials
discovered in 1970, also bioplastic (plastic made from natural resource
and fairly easy to degrade compared to synthetic plastic) was first
discovered by Maurice Lemoigne in 1926.-LES

Nylon, a form of synthetic polymer,
is created in 1930s by Wallace Carruthers



Ttodyapyes aOndf iPts ulassetsic

Nylon: As a synthetic silk, was Synthetic Plastic: Synthetic
used during the war for
parachutes, ropes, body armor, substitute for shellac
helmet liners, and more.
Synthetic Polimery: Polystyrene: Household and
Substitute for ivory, imitate
natural substances like appliance insulation,
tortoiseshell, horn, linen, and
ivory. lightweight protective

packaging, surfboards,

foodservice and food

packaging, automotive parts,

road and shoulder stabilization

systems and much more.



Advantage

Plastics are poor
conductors of heat which
makes them suitable for
making handles of
cooking vessels.
Plastics are poor
conductors of electricity
.so they are used in
electrical appliances
They are insoluble in
water.
They do not corrode or
rust.

LES

Disadvantage
When plastics are

burned,they produce toxic

gases and smoke

Most plastic wastes littering

the roadsides cause disease

causing microorganisms.

Plastics dumped in water

bodies pose a threat to

aquatic life.

The toxic substances

present in plastics which are

dumped in water bodies can

cause reproductive failure in

aquatic organisms.

Plastics prevent the

rainwater from seeping into

the ground.

Dumping of plastics in the

ground affects the plants

growing in the area as they

dont get enough water from

the soil.

Why plastic is a worldwide
problem today

More than eight million tonnes of plastic enters
the world's oceans each year and most of that
escapes from land. It can be blown into the sea
from ships and beaches, or carried there by river.

Some also get
flushed down the
toilet. Another
issue is that not
all plastic can be
recycled.-LES

How we can recycle plastic

There are three main types of recycling:
Mechanical recycling: method that consists of
separating plastics by class, washing them and
crushing them into small pieces that will be melted
in molds to produce new products. Chemical
recycling: method that consists in the degradation
of plastic by heat to become simple molecules

again.

Energy recovery:
method that

converts plastic
into fuel for
power
generation.



Creative ways of using plastic at home,
school and in your neighbourhood

Homemade solar toy car. Home sprinkler.
Homemade flashlight. Solar drip irrigation.
Toy - feeder for dogs.
Drinker for your pet. Electric toy car.
Hanging planters for
Recycle your cooking oil. growing tomatoes.
Clean food containers Designate containers for

before throwing them in storing craft supplies.
the bin. Reuse items that can be
obtained from the kitchen
Discuss the importance or the school cafeteria.
of the three Rs with the Encourage less plastic in

students. packed lunches
Start a recycling system . Request that supplier
deliveries are plastic-free
in the classroom.

Countries in the world that
recycle plastic and what they do

Germany Austria South Korea
Since 2016, Germany has Fellow Bavarian nation
had the highest recycling Austria takes second in February 2020, South
rate in the world, with place in the Eunomia list
56.1% of all waste it with a recycling rate of Korea’s environment
produced last year being 53.8% in 2018.The
recycled.In 1990, Germany country has a blanket ministry published a
conducted a packaging ban on certain waste
audit to help counteract types going to landfill. general policy to reduce
the potential rise of landfill
problems. waste paper imports.It also

said it will improve the

domestic recycling plastic

bottles by collecting them

separately from other

recyclables.

Wales Switzerland
Due to constitutional rules set out by One of the keys to the recycling
the country’s devolved government, system in the country, which is hailed
its policymakers have a statutory duty by many as one of the best in the
to help promote sustainable world, is due to its “polluter pays”
development. Like the rest of the UK, policy – in which households and
recycling in Wales is operated by local businesses pay for any non-recycling
administrations. waste they produce.



Paulina Orozco Campos
Alejando Maximo Che Mandujano

Leslie Valeria Espinosa Rico
Alejando Contreras Jijon
Manuel Jesus Chan Acosta