Podcast
Questions and Answers
What environmental benefit is NOT directly achieved through recycling?
What environmental benefit is NOT directly achieved through recycling?
Besides water what is the most consumed material by humanity?
Besides water what is the most consumed material by humanity?
What is the primary purpose of the chipping/crushing step in the recycling process?
What is the primary purpose of the chipping/crushing step in the recycling process?
What is the primary reason for Malaysia facing a potential waste management crisis?
What is the primary reason for Malaysia facing a potential waste management crisis?
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What is the approximate mesh size of the grill floor used during the chipping/crushing stage?
What is the approximate mesh size of the grill floor used during the chipping/crushing stage?
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Why is it crucial to maintain a washing temperature below 40°C when processing HDPE?
Why is it crucial to maintain a washing temperature below 40°C when processing HDPE?
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According to the waste hierarchy, what is the priority order for waste management?
According to the waste hierarchy, what is the priority order for waste management?
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What is the purpose of extruding melted plastic through a fine grill during the pelleting stage?
What is the purpose of extruding melted plastic through a fine grill during the pelleting stage?
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Which type of paper item is specifically mentioned as needing to be separated and bound before recycling?
Which type of paper item is specifically mentioned as needing to be separated and bound before recycling?
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What preparation step is essential for metal containers before they can be recycled?
What preparation step is essential for metal containers before they can be recycled?
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What is the function of the water spray during the pelleting process?
What is the function of the water spray during the pelleting process?
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What is the shape of the pellets produced during the pelleting process?
What is the shape of the pellets produced during the pelleting process?
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Which of the following plastic items is suitable for recycling according to the content?
Which of the following plastic items is suitable for recycling according to the content?
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What was the primary motivation behind the introduction of plastic codes by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI)?
What was the primary motivation behind the introduction of plastic codes by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI)?
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What is the recommended preparation method for glass items before recycling?
What is the recommended preparation method for glass items before recycling?
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Which type of plastic is commonly used for soft drink bottles, water bottles, and salad dressing bottles, according to the provided text?
Which type of plastic is commonly used for soft drink bottles, water bottles, and salad dressing bottles, according to the provided text?
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Which of these characteristics accurately describes PVC, according to the description?
Which of these characteristics accurately describes PVC, according to the description?
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Why is PVC referred to as the 'poison plastic'?
Why is PVC referred to as the 'poison plastic'?
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Which of the following is a common application of LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)?
Which of the following is a common application of LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)?
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How does the reusability and recyclability of LDPE products compare to other plastics?
How does the reusability and recyclability of LDPE products compare to other plastics?
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What is a key property of polypropylene (PP) that makes it suitable for use in cereal box liners?
What is a key property of polypropylene (PP) that makes it suitable for use in cereal box liners?
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What are the typical applications for products made from recycled LDPE?
What are the typical applications for products made from recycled LDPE?
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For which application should PVC products NOT be reused?
For which application should PVC products NOT be reused?
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Which statement accurately contrasts products made from recycled LDPE versus recycled HDPE?
Which statement accurately contrasts products made from recycled LDPE versus recycled HDPE?
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Which of the following reflects the 'Reduce' principle for a greener lifestyle?
Which of the following reflects the 'Reduce' principle for a greener lifestyle?
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How does choosing paper over plastic contribute to environmental sustainability?
How does choosing paper over plastic contribute to environmental sustainability?
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Aside from separating materials, what does recycling involve?
Aside from separating materials, what does recycling involve?
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What percentage of polypropylene products are currently being recycled in the US?
What percentage of polypropylene products are currently being recycled in the US?
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What is implied by the principle of 'Respect' within the context of environmental consciousness?
What is implied by the principle of 'Respect' within the context of environmental consciousness?
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Which of the following items is made from recycled polypropylene?
Which of the following items is made from recycled polypropylene?
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What action exemplifies the 'Reuse' principle in an office setting?
What action exemplifies the 'Reuse' principle in an office setting?
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What is a significant environmental concern related to polystyrene?
What is a significant environmental concern related to polystyrene?
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What would be the greatest impact of educating “the masses” about renewable energy?
What would be the greatest impact of educating “the masses” about renewable energy?
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What potential health risk is associated with polystyrene products?
What potential health risk is associated with polystyrene products?
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Why is recycling polystyrene challenging?
Why is recycling polystyrene challenging?
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When is it most appropriate to replace appliances with energy saving models?
When is it most appropriate to replace appliances with energy saving models?
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What is BPA, and why is it a concern in #7 plastics?
What is BPA, and why is it a concern in #7 plastics?
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What does reducing subscriptions to newspapers and magazines accomplish?
What does reducing subscriptions to newspapers and magazines accomplish?
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Which of the following categories of plastics is recognized for having non-standardized reuse and recycling protocols?
Which of the following categories of plastics is recognized for having non-standardized reuse and recycling protocols?
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What percentage of landfill material is accounted for by polystyrene?
What percentage of landfill material is accounted for by polystyrene?
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What is one of the environmental benefits of using recycled plastics over virgin plastics?
What is one of the environmental benefits of using recycled plastics over virgin plastics?
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Which plastic product is commonly made from recycled polythene?
Which plastic product is commonly made from recycled polythene?
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What percentage of post-consumer plastic waste is recycled according to a 2001 Environment Agency report?
What percentage of post-consumer plastic waste is recycled according to a 2001 Environment Agency report?
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What is a major advantage of reusing plastic over recycling it?
What is a major advantage of reusing plastic over recycling it?
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What change occurred in the use of returnable plastic crates by major supermarkets from 1992 to 2002?
What change occurred in the use of returnable plastic crates by major supermarkets from 1992 to 2002?
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What is the main disadvantage of recycling plastics?
What is the main disadvantage of recycling plastics?
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How much oil is saved for every tonne of recycled polythene produced, according to a study?
How much oil is saved for every tonne of recycled polythene produced, according to a study?
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What percentage of the world's oil production is used for plastic production?
What percentage of the world's oil production is used for plastic production?
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Flashcards
Recycling
Recycling
The process of turning used materials into new products.
Benefits of Recycling
Benefits of Recycling
Prevents waste, reduces raw material use, energy usage, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Concrete
Concrete
Humanity's most consumed material after water; contributes CO2 emissions.
Landfill Issues in Malaysia
Landfill Issues in Malaysia
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Recyclable Paper Items
Recyclable Paper Items
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Recyclable Metals
Recyclable Metals
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Recyclable Plastics
Recyclable Plastics
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Recyclable Glass
Recyclable Glass
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Chipping / Crushing
Chipping / Crushing
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Washing Process
Washing Process
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Temperature for Washing PET
Temperature for Washing PET
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Temperature for Washing HDPE
Temperature for Washing HDPE
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Pelleting Process
Pelleting Process
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Water Spray during Pelleting
Water Spray during Pelleting
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Plastic Codes
Plastic Codes
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Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
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PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
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PVC Recycling
PVC Recycling
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LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
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LDPE Recycling
LDPE Recycling
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PP (Polypropylene)
PP (Polypropylene)
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Safety of LDPE
Safety of LDPE
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Versatility of PP
Versatility of PP
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Environmental Impact of PVC
Environmental Impact of PVC
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Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene (PP)
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Recycled PP uses
Recycled PP uses
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Polystyrene (PS)
Polystyrene (PS)
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Health risks of PS
Health risks of PS
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Landfill impact of PS
Landfill impact of PS
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BPA (Bisphenol A)
BPA (Bisphenol A)
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#7 Plastics
#7 Plastics
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Recycling challenges
Recycling challenges
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Benefits of recycled plastic
Benefits of recycled plastic
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Reusing plastics vs. Recycling
Reusing plastics vs. Recycling
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Post-consumer plastic waste
Post-consumer plastic waste
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Environmental savings from recycling
Environmental savings from recycling
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Long-life plastics
Long-life plastics
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Quality of recycled plastics
Quality of recycled plastics
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Pollutants from plastic production
Pollutants from plastic production
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Reuse rate in supermarkets
Reuse rate in supermarkets
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Energy Conservation
Energy Conservation
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Reuse
Reuse
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Recycle
Recycle
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Renewable Resources
Renewable Resources
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Clean Up Subscriptions
Clean Up Subscriptions
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Cleaning Supplies Reduction
Cleaning Supplies Reduction
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Respect for Environment
Respect for Environment
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Cartridge Recycling
Cartridge Recycling
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Study Notes
Recycling Overview
- Recycling processes used materials (waste) to create new products
- Recycling prevents waste of useful materials
- Recycling reduces consumption of raw materials
- Recycling reduces energy usage
- Recycling reduces air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling)
- Recycling reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared to virgin production
- Recycling is a key component of modern waste reduction
- Recycling is the third step in the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" waste hierarchy
- The annual waste production in Malaysia is 45,000 tonnes, and most ends up in landfills.
- Currently, 80% of Malaysia's 230 landfills are full
- Recycling rates vary by source, with household waste making up 70% and commercial waste composing 30%
Recycling Rates
- Recycling rate for Household Waste (2000-2020) has shown an increasing trend
- Recycling rate for Commercial Waste (2000-2020) has shown an increasing trend
- In 2020, 16.76 million tonnes of waste is expected to be generated by Malaysia
- By 2020, 45,900 tonnes of waste is estimated to be generated daily in Malaysia
Materials Recycling
- Paper: Newspapers, manuals, school books, computer paper, leaflets, catalogs, and paper boxes need separation before recycling
- Metals: Aluminum cans, food and sauce cans, tin containers (milk, Milo, etc.), and biscuit tins need to be drained of liquid, rinsed, and placed in bags/boxes before recycling
- Plastics: Soft drinks and juice bottles, mineral water bottles, food and sauce containers, liquid soap and detergent bottles, shampoo and lotion bottles, and plastic bags should be rinsed and separately placed in bags/boxes
- Glass: Soft drinks and juice bottles, jars, sauces, seasoning bottles, and vitamins/cosmetics need to be washed and placed separately in bags/boxes
- Cartons: Tetra pack beverages and food cartons need to be rinsed and flattened; aseptic cartons can be stored and transported without refrigeration
Tetra Pak Cartons
- About 70% of tetra pack cartons are aseptic and can be stored/transported without refrigeration
- This results in considerable energy savings because of these cartons being 20% lighter now compared to 30 years ago
- Fewer resources are used, less energy is used in producing them, and less waste to dispose off
Recycling Process of Plastics
- Plastics recycling is done in 5 steps:
- Collection
- Manual sorting
- Baling
- Crushing
- Washing
- Regeneration
- Pelleting
- Plastics come from two main sources: post-consumer plastics (used by people) and post-industrial plastics (industry rejects).
- Plastics are collected in recycling bins and domestic roadside collections, or directly from industry.
- Step 2: Manual sorting, to separate the incoming plastic into PET, HDPE, and other categories.
- Step 3: Chipping, in which the stream of plastic is separated and sent to a chipper. The material is cut until it can go through the grill.
- Step 4: Washing, in which the glue, paper labels, and other remnants are removed. Both streams (other and PET) are washed at 90oC for at least 12 minutes.
- Step 5: Pelleting, by melting the chips and extruding them through a grill to remove dirt, or metal particles and then through small holes to make pellets.
Plastic codes
- Plastic codes (resin coding system) were introduced by SPI in 1988 for efficient recycling
- Understanding plastic types help with recycling
Edible Cutlery
- Spoons made of carrot, beetroot, spinach
- Chopsticks and bowls (edible)
- Edible and biodegradable plates
How Fibreglass is Recycled
- Fibreglass waste is sent to Zajons in Germany
- It is consolidated and the calorific value is adjusted with recycling materials
- The crushed fibreglass is sent to Holcim
- Holcim uses it to produce cement, saving coal, chalk, sand and aluminum oxide. It produces no dust, ash, or other residues.
Circular Economy Package
- Designed to help businesses and consumers transition to a stronger circular economy
- It aims to close the loop of product lifecycles through greater recycling and reuse
- Examples include using kenaf, rice husk, coconut fiber, palm husk, mud, and mango seeds
5Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Renew, Respect) for a Greener World
- Reduce: Reduce consumption of stuff, driving, energy, subscriptions, and cleaning supplies.
- Reuse: Reuse office items, repurpose items around the house, and use reusable shopping bags.
- Recycle: Recycle glass, newspapers, printer cartridges; car batteries, tires, and motor oil. Properly separate materials.
- Renew: Use renewable resources like paper over plastic, and invest in renewable energy options.
- Respect: Respect the environment by leaving the smallest footprint possible.
8Rs (Reduce, Refuse, Reuse, Repair, Rethink, Recover, Recycle, Regift) for a Greener World
- Reduce: Reduce consumption of energy and materials
- Refuse: Don't consume what you don't need
- Reuse: Share with others, find new uses for old things
- Repair: Fix and upgrade objects, rather than throwing them away
- Rethink: Mindful consumption, balance between objects and care for earth
- Recover: Recover energy and materials
- Recycle: Close the loop and remake
- Regift: Share and be part of the gift economy
Uses of Recycled Plastic
- Recycled plastic can be used for almost anything virgin plastic is used for (except food packaging)
- Recycled plastic is often pelletized and sold to other companies for molding into a range of products (such as carpets)
- Some recycled plastic is used locally, and the rest is exported to other countries such as Asia and the United States
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Description
Test your knowledge on recycling processes, waste management challenges, and the environmental benefits of recycling. This quiz covers various aspects such as material consumption, recycling procedures, and the importance of waste hierarchy. Explore your understanding of how recycling impacts the environment and the nuances of different materials.