Problems with Polymers Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

Why do polymers persist in landfill sites?

They are not biodegradable, so microorganisms cannot break them down and they degrade very slowly.

What is a problem with disposing of polymers by combustion?

Gases are produced, some of which may be toxic (e.g. hydrogen chloride from PVC).

Why must polymers be sorted before they are recycled?

Different types of polymer must be separated so that each type can be melted and reformed into a new product.

Where do the starting materials for most synthetic polymers come from?

Crude oil, which is a finite (non-renewable) resource.

Give two advantages of recycling polymers.

It conserves crude oil (the starting material) and reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill; it also uses less energy than making new polymer.

True or false? All waste polymers can be recycled easily and cheaply.

False. Some polymers cannot be recycled, and sorting, separating and washing them takes time and energy, which adds to the cost.