Plastic Pollution Awareness

Plastic Pollution Awareness

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Multiple Choice

Are plastics made from natural substances or chemicals?

• natural

• chemical

Contrary to popular belief, plastic is made from organic substances such as crude oil, natural gas, coal, and plant and animal proteins. These substances contain proteins that are linked together to create plastics.

Multiple Choice

How much of the plastic waste disposed of every year is for single use only?

• 50%

• 30%

• 40%

• 10%

Half of the plastic produced every year, that's four million tons, is of single use. Single use plastics include takeaway containers and cutlery, such as smoothie and coffee cups, straws, and salad domes, shopping bags, and water bottles.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following common items do not contain plastic?

• bubble gum

• cotton swabs

• glitter

• magazines

• none of the above

All the items listed contain plastic. Bubblegum is a form of polymer. Any kind of shiny, water-resistant paper or cardboard is coated in a plastic film. And many toiletries contain microbeads - tiny pieces of plastics.

Multiple Choice

Why do companies use plastics in their products?

• They're afordable

• They're water tight and durable

• They are lightweight and can change into any shape

• Consumers expect convenience

• All of the above

Plastics are mostly still popular because they are convenient for both consumers and manufacturers. They are durable, lightweight, malleable, affordable to produce and buy.

Multiple Choice

How many years does it take for a single piece of plastic to decompose?

• one thousand

• one hundred

• never

• one million

Although plastic materials might break down into smaller pieces their actual chemical composition doesn't change. Every piece of plastic ever produced since the early 1900s still exists even though it might be in a smaller form.

Multiple Choice

Of the five known ocean garbage patches which is the largest?

• Indian Ocean Garbage Patch

• The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

• North Atlantic Garbage Patch

• South Pacific Garbage Patch

• Mediterranean Sea Garbage Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch or GPGP estimated to contain 80 thousand tonnes of plastic and covers an area twice the size of Texas. In 2018,The Plastic Cleanup, will be trialing a new way to collect and remove plastics in the GPGP.

Multiple Choice

Which types of plastics can be recycled?

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7

• 1 and 2

• 3, 4, and 5

• 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5

Only plastics 1 and 2 are commonly accepted by recycling centers. Numbers 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are not widely accepted, although efforts are being made to create innovative solutions that will allow centers to recycle these materials.

Multiple Choice

How much plastic is currently recycled?

• 2%

• 14%

• 30%

• 5%

Although 14% of plastic is collected for recycling only about 2% of plastic actually makes it back to consumers, in the form of packaging or other products. 14% is incinerated, 45% is landfilled, and 30% leaks into natural environments.

Multiple Choice

By which year will there be more plastic than fish in the ocean?

• 2030

• 2040

• 2050

• 2020

By 2050, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. Eight million tons of plastic ends up in the ocean every year. With current production and consumer rates, and lack of infrastructure, plastics will soon outweigh marine life.

Multiple Choice

How many tap water sources have been found to contain plastic particles?

• Between 10 to 20%

• Between 20 to 40%

• Between 40 to 50%

• Between 70 to 90%

Recent studies have been shown that between 70 to 90% of tap water around the world contains microplastic particles. It is even more prevalent in bottled water. The World Health Organization have launched a new study into the health risks.

Poll

Now that you have learned a little bit about plastics, How interested are you in making a change to help our future generations?

• Very Interested

• Somewhat Interested

• Neutral

• Not Very Interested

• Not At All Interested

Poll

A change can be as simple as no longer buying disposable Styrofoam cups or refilling a gallon of water instead of buying single use water bottles. You can take your own shopping bags to the store. You can make a switch to eco-friendly products when available. There are so many ways we can collectively make a difference. How soon do you plan on making a change?

• 0-3 months

• 6-12 months

• 1-2 years

• 3-5 years

• I am not ready to make a change