What really happens to the plastic you throw away?

How are plastic bottles initially formed?

• By melting sand and shaping it into bottles.

• By chemically bonding oil and gas molecules to create polymers.

• By extracting plastic directly from the earth.

• By combining water and natural resins.

What harmful substance is created when rainwater flows through plastic and other waste in a landfill?

• Methane gas

• Compost

• Leachate

• Fertilizer

What happens to marine animals that consume microplastics?

• They become stronger and healthier.

• They feel full and starve to death, passing toxins up the food chain.

• They develop new adaptations to digest plastic.

• They use the plastic to build nests.

What is the final step in the recycling process for plastic bottles before they are reformed into new products?

• They are buried in a landfill.

• They are shipped directly to stores.

• They are shredded, washed, and melted.

• They are thrown into the ocean.