Module 2
Module preparation
• Arrange the room so that the participants can work in teams of 2-5 members
• Print and copy documents for each participant/use digital versions of those
documents
Sequence 1.
Pollution with household waste
Context
Household waste is usually called garbage. The amount of waste created increases with the global population. In general, waste production increases as human civilizations become more automated and industrialized.
For instance, the industrial revolution brought new manufactured goods and new manufacturing techniques, which increased the amount of industrial garbage and solid waste of origin. The excessive packaging of many products and modern consumerism contribute considerably to the increase in solid waste.
Reducing plastic waste from nature depends on changing our consumer behavior:
- We reduce the consumption of non-degradable or hard-to-degrade materials
- We avoid waste
- We recycle more and throw away less
Among household waste, plastic has the biggest negative impact on the environment.
Plastic is all around us, it is a part of all our lives. Many of us have our first experience with plastic since birth when the midwife puts the plastic identification bracelet on the newborn's ankle. From that moment on, we grow up in a world dominated by plastic.
Plastic products began to be manufactured at the beginning of the 20th century, when Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, which was quickly used to produce telephones, toys, car parts, building materials. There are currently over 50 main types of plastic. Plastic has found its use in all fields of activity, becoming an indispensable material.
Group activity
Ask students to reflect on the topic of plastic use: its importance in everyday life, at work, how often they use plastic objects, especially disposable ones.
Fields of use of plastic:
- Packaging (about 1/3)
- Pipes and plumbing (1/3)
- Cars (20%)
- Furniture and toys
Like any object, plastic ones also have a useful life after which they become waste. About 95% of plastic packaging worldwide is used only once. Products such as glasses and cutlery made of plastic are only used once before being thrown away.
What do we do with plastic waste when we want to get rid of it? People tend to choose the most convenient way to get rid of them:
1. They throw them in the trash without selecting them and from there they end up in the landfill.
2. They throw them away haphazardly, especially when they're out and about and don't have a trash can nearby. Often such plastic waste ends up in lakes, rivers and from there further into the seas and oceans.
What is the biggest problem with plastic waste? Plastic does not degrade, so all the plastic ever made still exists on the surface of our planet. If exposed to sunlight for long periods, the plastic can become brittle and break into smaller pieces. A plastic bottle floats in the ocean for about 450 years to break down into smaller and smaller fragments. They will never fully disappear.
3. Recycling. More and more people are getting involved in selecting plastic waste to be collected by specialized companies. These companies deliver plastic waste to companies specialized in its recycling. And yet recycling plastic is more difficult than other materials such as glass, paper, textiles. The main problem is that the melted plastic must be of the same type. Also, the dyes and additives used in plastics make it more difficult to recycle.
Did you know that...
Every time you wash synthetic clothing, tiny strands of plastic like nylon and acrylic (called microfibers) are washed out of the clothing and they get into the washing machine waste water. It is estimated that in one wash a washing machine releases up to 700,000 microfibers.
Since they are too small to be filtered out by water treatment plants, these microfibers could also be in our drinking water. Research has shown that 83% of tap water samples taken from various places around the world were contaminated with microscopic plastic fibers.
These microfibers have also been found in bottled water. Scientists found about twice as many plastic particles in bottled water than in tap water.
Recycling plastic waste is quite a demanding process and cannot be done for every type of material. That's why people should be very careful about what they buy and how they store it inside the garbage containers.
There are several recyclable plastic materials but there are others that cannot go through such a process. All products made from this recyclable material have the triangle symbol called the Möbius loop. It was first implemented by the Society of Plastic Industry in 1988. Inside it there is a number, usually from 1 to 7 – representing how easily the plastic can be recycled.
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is used in the manufacture of beverage bottles. It can be recycled most easily.
HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) is a high density material found in milk containers, cosmetic packaging, cleaning products, garden furniture, baby bottles, containers, storage boxes and other products that require resistance. It is not affected by strong heat, which makes it perfect for such packaging.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is found in pipes, cables, window frames, medical products, footwear, etc. It is a very durable plastic, but light at the same time, it is fire and weather resistant. PVC is considered among the most harmful and dangerous plastics that cannot be recycled.
LDPE (low-density polyethylene) is found in grocery bags, garbage bags, flexible bottles, and recycling this can produce other new plastic bags.
PP (polypropylene) is an extremely rigid plastic, but with a very low density, which makes it resistant to heat and quite easy to recycle. Bottle caps, food packaging and drinking straws are made from polypropylene. After it is recycled it can be reused.
PS (polystyrene) is often found in construction, plumbing, toys, medical tubes because it can be a good insulator and withstand shock. However, its exposure to heat is considered toxic.
A final category is the mixed one, which includes plastic materials that cannot be recycled, because they have a much too complex composition. These include polyurethane, acrylic or polycarbonate.
How to recycle plastic correctly
- Any plastic container must be cleaned before being inserted into the container intended for the material.
- Plastic bags must be clean and tightly packed to be recycled.
- The labels on the packages will be removed before throwing them away.
- The bottles must be flattened and with the cap on.
When these procedures are not followed, most products end up being excluded from the recycling cycle and end up in landfills, where they can sit for decades to hundreds of years until they decompose.
Learn how to collect plastic waste correctly
How you can reduce plastic pollution
1. Buy more bulk food and less packaged food!
Supermarkets are filled with disposable containers (polystyrene trays, PET bottles, tetra packs, plastic containers, etc.). But there is an alternative: more and more stores offer the possibility to buy in bulk.
2. If you go shopping, don't forget to take a canvas bag!
If when we go shopping we use reusable bags (canvas, twine or wicker) the health of our planet will improve. From now on, remember to take one with you when you leave the house.
3. Stop using plastic cups for coffee!
I know it's hard to do that when you're traveling. That's why I suggest you give them up when you're at work or school. A softer option is to use cardboard cups, but they also contain plastic (even if in small quantities). It is best if you use glass or ceramic cups or mugs.
4. Use your own reusable water bottle!
You can choose to use reusable plastic bottles that you can use for a longer time. If it is not too inconvenient you can use glass containers.
5. Say NO to plastic cutlery!
There are alternatives to these objects that are disposable: those made of wood, of metal that can also be reused or even of compostable plastic.
6. Give up plastic straws!
Plastic straws and stirrers are disposable items that pollute the environment after use. You can use paper ones as an alternative or ... give them up. It is not difficult at all.
7. Give up the plastic cling film!
Unlike cling film which cannot be recycled, paper film is recyclable. So if you use cling film for wrapping, make sure you put it in the recycling bin after use! Another alternative is the new ecological films with beeswax. Made from 100% cotton, pine resin, jojoba oil and local beeswax, they are 100% natural and eco-friendly. This means no pests will get into the food while it's in storage, it's reusable and compostable, stopping plastic pollution. Plus, they come in fun patterns!
8. Beware of tea bags!
Use loose leaf tea with a tea strainer instead of tea bags that are sealed with plastic. Throwing away tea bags can contribute to the pollution problem. Soaking a plastic tea bag can release 11.6 billion microplastic particles into a cup of tea. Things are changing, though: biodegradable tea bags have recently appeared.
9. Choose wine bottles with natural corks!
Choose wine bottles with natural cork stoppers instead of plastic stoppers or metal screw caps (which contain BPA, an industrial chemical used in the manufacture of certain plastics).
10. Choose glass or steel food containers!
If you eat at work/school, you may use a plastic box to transport your food. We suggest you change the routine and choose glass or stainless steel containers. Not only will the planet appreciate it, but so will your health, as some of these plastic containers can release harmful substances.
11. When washing, use wooden hooks instead of plastic ones!
Even the smallest actions can have a major positive impact on our planet. For instance, an easy routine action such as hanging clothes to dry can become an extraordinary act if we switch from plastic to wooden hooks.
Suggested activity
Challenge the participants to a discussion on plastic waste.
1. How do you get rid of them at home, at work or at school and also while traveling?
2. On a scale from 1 to 10, where would they place their responsible behavior regarding the reducing of plastic consumption and its recycling?
3. Challenge them to identify behaviors they can use to reduce plastic use in the next 30 days.
Selective collection of household waste
YELLOW bin: PLASTIC AND METAL
YES: plastic cans and boxes, plastic bags, plastic packaging, plastic toys, beverage cans, cans, Tetra Pak boxes (milk and juice cartons), etc.
NO: mixed metal and plastic products, construction polystyrene, paint cans, thinners or other hazardous chemicals, medical waste (for instance used syringes) etc.
GREEN bin: GLASS
YES: glass containers (without lids), jars (without lids), demijohns, glass containers from cosmetic products, etc.
NO: mirrors, glass, porcelain, ceramic, crystal/heat-resistant dishes, etc.
BLUE bin: PAPER AND CARDBOARD
YES: magazines, newspapers, waste paper, envelopes; boxes, photos, egg cartons, pizza boxes, etc. (clean and dry)
NO: paper and cardboard containing food residues, used napkins and paper towel, glossy wrapping paper.
BROWN bin: BIO-WASTE
YES: fresh or cooked fruit and vegetable scraps, bread and cereal scraps, coffee grounds/tea scraps including tea bags, egg shells, nut shells, stove ash (when only wood is burned), sawdust, hay and straw, vegetable scraps from the yard (shredded leaves, twigs and canes, flowers), house plants, pieces of shredded wood, newspapers, shredded cardboard - wet and dirty, paper tissues.
NO: leftover meat and fish, cooked or fresh scraps, leftover dairy products (milk, cream, cheese, yogurt, butter, cream), whole eggs, animal fats and vegetable oils, pet excrement, stove ash (if coal is also burned), plant residues from the yard treated with pesticides, treated or painted wood.
BLACK bin: HOUSEHOLD WASTE
YES: food scraps (meat, dairy, vegetables, eggs), disposable diapers, absorbents, pet waste/excrement, vacuum cleaner bag contents, cigarette butts, used tissues, heavily soiled packaging, ceramic and porcelain shards, very dirty disposable tableware, ash from stoves (if coal is also burned in addition to wood), vegetable scraps from the yard (if treated with pesticides), treated or painted wood, etc.
NO: Textile waste, footwear, soil, sand, gravel, electrical and electronic waste from equipment and batteries, vehicle components (dismantled parts), tires, construction and demolition waste, bulky waste (furniture, carpets, mattresses, etc.)
Ocean pollution
Online activity
Plastic doesn't just pollute land. It reaches different paths in seas and oceans where real plastic islands have already formed.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an area of accumulation of a multitude of plastic waste (plastic bottles - PET, nylon (plastic) fishing nets, floating objects, shredded plastic, etc.). It covers 1.6 million square kilometers.
- • Plastic coming from the ocean already represents more than 150 million tons of waste.
- • By 2050, the oceans could contain more plastic than fish.
- • Each year, approximately eight million tons of plastic end up in Earth's seas and oceans.
What are the effects of plastic on marine life?
Large plastic debris floating in the oceans can kill animals such as dolphins and whales. Plastic bags floating underwater are eaten by turtles who mistake them for jellyfish. They block their digestive systems and starve.
Layson albatrosses are large seabirds that live in the Pacific and feed on fish and squid. They swallow the plastic which creates the feeling of satiety even more by starving them.
Toxic chemicals floating in the oceans are attracted to plastic and often "stick" to it, so when fish eat small pieces of plastic, they are also eating the toxic chemicals. Small fish feed on tiny pieces of plastic. The larger fish that eat them accumulate a higher dose of pollutants because they eat a lot of smaller fish. As you go up the food chain, pollutants become more and more concentrated. At the top of the food chain are us humans.
A remote, tiny, uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean called Henderson Island has the highest density of plastic trash found anywhere in the world. There are almost 18 tons of plastic, broken into 37.7 million separate pieces. The crabs have been found living in pieces of trash such as cosmetic packaging and plastic bottle caps. How did all this plastic get there? The island is almost the Center of the Pacific. By means of a huge rotating current that collected all this garbage.
There are beaches on the Pacific islands that seem to be covered with sand of different colors. They are actually tiny pieces of plastic that have been broken into tiny pieces.
Sequence 2.
Carbon footprint
Context
The terrestrial environment is a dynamic environment that is constantly evolving. Climate, as part of the terrestrial environment is subject to this change. Throughout the Earth's history there have been periods of climate warming but also glacial periods or ice ages. They were the result of terrestrial processes and phenomena but also of cosmic phenomena. An important role in climate change is the variation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The share of carbon dioxide emissions is influenced by various terrestrial phenomena such volcanic eruptions.
With the advent of industry (at the beginning of the 19th century) man became a major emitter of CO2 into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. But other economic activities, such as agriculture, contribute to the increase in CO2 in the atmosphere.
If until the middle of the 20th century, Europe and the USA were responsible for the majority of CO2 emissions (85%), today their share in total CO2 emissions has decreased to less than a third. Instead, Asia and especially China are currently responsible for most of the CO2 emissions.
There was a need to limit CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and to identify the human activities that emit the most greenhouse gases, especially CO2. For this, an indicator called Carbon Footprint was invented.
The carbon footprint (CO2 footprint) represents the totality of greenhouse gas emissions emitted into the atmosphere, generated by companies, households and each individual, as a result of current activities, during a certain calendar interval. These emissions can be direct or indirect and are equivalent in tons of CO2. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) recommends that a person's carbon footprint is approximately 1 ton per person. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions can improve air, water and food quality for our generation and for generations to come.
The personal carbon footprint is a tool used to assess how a person's actions affect the environment. Its calculation allows you to adjust your consumption patterns and minimize or optimize energy efficiency to reduce your environmental impact. Our carbon footprint negatively impacts the environment in many ways: it is the leading cause of human-induced climate change, it contributes to urban air pollution, it leads to toxic acid rain, it adds to coastal and ocean acidification and it worsens the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps.
Students have to realize that any activity made by each of us, such as the use of the Internet, electricity, domestic water use, travel and other similar things, contributes to the increase of greenhouse gas emissions that can be expressed by using the phrase "carbon footprint".
Individual task
2. Identify 3 common activities that increase your personal carbon footprint.
How can you reduce your carbon footprint?
Here are some changes that can make a difference.
Food
- • Eat local and seasonal products
- • Reduce meat consumption, especially beef
- • Choose sustainable fishing
- • Use reusable bags and avoid products with too much plastic packaging
- • Buy only as much as you need and avoid waste
Clothes
- • Keep your clothes as long as possible
- • Try swapping, borrowing, renting or buying second hand clothes
- • Buy clothes produced responsibly (e.g. from recycled materials or with an ecological label)
Transport
- • Use the bike or public transport
- • Choose wisely when and how you are going to drive
- • Travel by train on your next vacation
Energy and waste
- • Turn down the thermostat by 1°C in order to save energy
- • Take short showers
- • Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or washing dishes between wetting and rinsing
- • Unplug electronic equipment and don't leave your phone charging when the battery is already full
- • Do not store unnecessary data on the cloud (fingerprint details)
- • Choose energy efficient products with the "A" label (EU energy label)
- • Produce as little waste as possible and recycle as much as possible.
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