Plastics

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What are Plastics

Plastics have a huge impact on our daily lives, and yest most have been around for less than 100 years.

The name plastic is used to cover a wide range of polymers that can be easily moulded into different shapes. A polymer is a substance made of many identical small molecules joined together. In most plastics, the small molecules come from oil and are bonded together in to very long chains.

Although plastics are extremely useful, they come with several disadvantages. Probably the most important is that they do not decompose and are therefore difficult to dispose of. Some newer plastics are biodegradable (i.e. they decompose). Others claim to be biodegradable, but in fact are non-decomposing pellets held together by a starchy matrix.

Other diadvantages are that plastics are a potential fire hazard, and that some chemicals used in making plastics are toxic.

What are Plastics

There are two types of plastics: thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics

Thermoplastics

Thermoplastics become soft when heated, so can potentially be remoulded. Common thermoplastics and their uses include:

Polythene: water pipes, bottles

Polypropylene: carpets, sacks, food packaging

Vinyl: fabric, cables, pipes

Polystyrene: toys, foam packaging

Perspex: roofing, signs

Nylon: brushes, carpets

PET: soft drink bottles

ABS: car bumpers

Thermosetting plastics

These plastics do not soften on heating. Thermosetting plastics include:

Polyester: boat resin, fabrics, tyres, seatbelts

Melamine: furniture / cabinetry, flooring

Recycling Plastics

Plastics, along with other substances that do not decompose, create major rubish disposal problems. Many local councils now have systems for recycling as much of our daily rubbish as possible. Recycling involves the material being used in the production of new products.

The process of recycling and manufacturing using recycled material, often costs more than manufacturing using new materials. Even so, it is vitally important we do not just dump our unwanted wastes.

Check out the Auckland Council website 🔗 to read more information on what you can and cannot put into your Auckland Council recycling bin (the green bin!).

Plastics are a particular problem in the marine environment. Larger pieces of plastic harm in the larger sea creatures, such as dolphins and turtles, while the smaller pieces produced as plastics mechanically break down may harm even the tiniest creatures, such as krill.

A major component of the huge drifts of plastic in the ocean gyres (circular patterns of ocean currents) is drink bottles. Just one could choke a whale.

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