How long does it take for materials to break down? If materials are not recycled they are left to break down either in landfills or elsewhere in the environment. The lifespan is different for each material. The lifespans of some common materials are outlined in the table below. For items such as glass bottles the lifespan is a predicted value because we cannot be sure exactly how long they take to break down.
Material
1. Paper towels 2. Newspaper 3. Cotton 4. Tin cans
5. Aluminium cans 6. Plastic bottles 7. Fishing line
Activity Look at the list of recycled materials in the above table and answer the questions that follow:
1. Which of the materials do you think is the most difficult to recycle? 2. Put them in order of what you think is the most recycled to the least. Which of the materials do you think is the easiest to recycle?
3. Paper, aluminium cans and plastics can be recycled in your recycling bin at home. (a) Identify the materials in the table which should not be placed in your recycling bin.
(b) Find out the nearest location where you can recycle each material in the table. 4. Investigate the components of batteries that can be recycled.
Why recycle? The extraction, processing, use and disposal of materials have many negative impacts on the environment. Recycling reduces the extraction of raw materials. Recycling saves energy as less energy is needed to recycle the materials for reuse compared to obtaining and refining them from their raw form. Recycling reduces the amount of waste that is released into the environment, goes to landfill or is incinerated.
