Plastic by the Number

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Fifth grade students learned the meaning of the number on plastics.  Plastics #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 can be recycled in our area.  Styrofoam and other #6 plastics cannot be recycled.  On November 5, 2012, a staff member from “Keep Pearland Beautiful” explained to the class how recycling works by showing a uTube video called “Video Fieldtrip—Landfill.” 

“Plastic by the Number” is one of the activities in the “Waste in Place” curriculum from “Keep America Beautiful.”  The local affiliate at Keep Pearland Beautiful has sets of plastic for classroom use so that students can investigate the properties of plastic.

Our school recycles plastic.  The plastic is collected weekly and taken to the Pearland Recycling Center.

Do you know what the numbers on plastic mean?  Each plastic number has a name and distinct properties. 

#1 PETE is a great plastic to use for water bottles.

#2 HDPE is found in milk jugs and bleach bottles.

#3 PVC or vinyl is found in shampoo bottles and PVC pipes.

#4 LDPE is what newspaper wrappers are made from.

#5 PP is found on ketchup bottles and yogurt containers.

#6 Polystyrene is used for egg cartons and Styrofoam cups.

#7 is miscellaneous plastic, but it can now be recycled.

Results:

1. 1. Students learned how recycling works and the properties of plastics.
2. 2. Fifth grade students know which plastics can be recycled.
3. 3. Our school collects plastic weekly and recycles at the Pearland Recycling Center.
4. 
   

How can your students learn about plastic properties and how plastic is recycled?

1. 1. Contact your local affiliate of “Keep America Beautiful” for the teacher training called “Waste in Place.”
2. 2. See the links for these videos and websites:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA608GJ-EzM&feature=youtu.be

http://visual.ly/how-much-do-we-really-recycle.

http://visual.ly/life-water-bottle

http://visual.ly/how-recycling-gets-sorted-florida-style

1. 3. Borrow kits with plastics for use with several student groups.  You can also collect the plastic, but this may take a while.
2. 4. Use the “Waste in Place” curriculum worksheets for students to record observations about different numbers of plastics.
3. 5. Students complete the homework assignment to record the numbers of plastics found at home.
4. 6. Devise a plan to recycle plastic at your school.