Perils of Plastic8-25-17

The average American throws away nearly 15 tons of packaging in their lifetime.

Much of this ends up in the ocean, and much of it is plastic

As plastic ages it breaks down into pieces called “nurdles” or “mermaid tears”

These pieces make their way into the food chain and can sicken or kill wildlife

Where is the world’s largest trash “landfill”?

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wH878t78bw

Homework

•Read Perils of Plastic

•Answer the following questions in complete sentenceson the back:

1. How large is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?2. What factors combine to form this massive

collection of garbage?3. Why is David de Rothchild sailing 8,000 miles on a

ship made of plastic bottles?

Project

• You are going to collect ALL of your recyclable trash for one week

•All bottles, cans, paper, plastic, metals, etc. should be clean

•After one week you will bring in you recyclable trash to weigh the accumulated trash and do some calculations (bring in next Tuesday)

•Do not use a plastic garbage bag to collect your trash. Use a box, paper grocery bag, or container.

Answer

•With the weight of your trash from one week, what would the total weight be in one year? After ten years?

•Why is plastic harmful to the environment?

•What can people do to produce less trash?