How to give plastic a second life from home – 2024-02-22 04:23:18

The history of plastic dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Leo Hendrik Baekeland invented the Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic, in 1907.

Two years later, in 1909, Baekeland coined the term “plastic materials” to describe products made from macromolecules. Bakelite was a milestone in the history of plastics, as it was widely used in the manufacturing of phones and other products for many years.

According to researcher Philippe Chalim of the Paris-Dauphine University and author of The History of Plastics: From the Capitol to the Tarpeian Rockthe first attempts to create synthetic plastics date back much earlier, to 1833, when the Frenchman Henri Braconnot produced nitrocellulose, a precursor to modern plastics.

In his text, Chalim explains that, although nitrocellulose was used industrially in the United States from 1868 to manufacture billiard balls, these first plastics were still “imitations”, since They were made from cellulose and were not synthetic in the modern sense of the word.

But the real plastic explosion occurred between the two world wars: In 1913, plastic was invented. cellophanefollowed by chloride polyvinyl in 1927, the polystyrene and the nylon in 1938, and the polyethylene in 1942.

Since then, Plastic production has increased exponentially, multiplying by twenty between 1950 and 1970.according to researcher Philippe Chalim of the Paris-Dauphine University.

Los Plastics have become irreversibly integrated into our lives.becoming, according to Philippe Chalim, a symbol of the “American lifestyle”, which has led to finding applications in a wide range of products, from kitchen utensils to furniture, high fashion and mobile technology.

Plastic in everyday life

According to Lda. Priscila Juárez Barrios, coordinator of Biology Laboratories and Coordinator of the Recycling Committee of the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, the Plastic’s popularity is largely due to its lightness, durability and low cost.turning it into a material essential for our society.

“It has always been part of our life,” says Juárez Barrios, who recalls that the usefulness of plastic is reflected in a variety of products, such as parts of cell phones, computers and automobiles

However, This widespread use has given rise to a worrying environmental crisis, warns the specialist. The concern might be related to a prediction that states that By 2025, the mismanagement of plastic waste might reach 69.1 million tons, explains Juárez Barrios.

It is important to recognize the different classifications of materials in waste to give them an optimal second life. (Free Press Photo: Shutterstock)

From a business perspective, it is also essential to consider not only the initial use of plastic in the manufacture of products, but also in a complete life cycleemphasizes Doris Estrada, Expansion Unit Manager of ecoins Guatemala, company helping the transition to the circular economy.

The importance of seeing the usefulness of the material product is due to the fact that at this point in industrialization Plastic has come to replace other materials such as glass and tin.

“We changed the bottles glass for plastic oneslos jars for plastic containerslas checkbooks for debit cardslas paper bags for plastic bags and the pashtes for sponges”, shares Estrada.

The ecoins representative emphasizes that, despite this normalization, it is necessary to talk regarding the lack of an effective recovery and recycling system. Consequently, this has led to an excessive accumulation of plastic waste in the environment.

This accumulation of plastic waste has generated a series of environmental and public health problems. Without going too far from our context, it would be enough to think regarding the Motagua River and its ecological problems.

“We became dependent on a material that was as versatile as it was economical, without thinking that those same positive characteristics of the product, by not offering a recovery mechanism for a new life, would turn once morest us at the moment discard”, reflects Estrada.

It is not necessary to throw away the bags or give them a single use. These can be used several times in the market or supermarket following being washed and dried in the sun. (PhotoPrensa Libre: Shutterstock)

According to the interviewee, it is necessary to change so much our way of consumption and disposaltreating each plastic container as a recyclable material and not as another waste.

The accumulation of discarded materials, which might have a secondary useis a problem that Doris Estrada also points out.

According to the waste treatment specialist, We have become accustomed to throwing away materials that might be useful to others, without considering reuse or recycling alternatives. that might significantly reduce the amount of waste we generate.

Challenge the buildup

It is important to recognize the difference in durability and environmental impact of different plastic products.

“It is not the same, for example, to use a plastic straw that following 5 minutes will become almost eternal wastewhat a Q5 bill made of polymer (plastic) that will be circulating for 10 years being totally usefulprecisely because of the durability of the material,” argues Doris Estrada.

Single-use plastic, such as cutlery, cups, plates, water bottles, drink containers and straws, can be replaced by more sustainable optionsaccording to Lda. Priscila Juárez Barrios of the UVG.

Whether for pots in gardens or decoratively, bottles are a great container to protect the growth of new plants. (Free Press Photo: Shutterstock)

The coordinator points out that some of these products don’t even need to be used completely, which highlights the importance of reduce its use in our daily lives.

However, part of how to recycle plastic materials Start by understand your reuse and recycling possibilities.

In Guatemala there are seven different divisions of plastic, each with their technical names. To facilitate your recognition, They are assigned a number within a triangle that can be seen highlighted on the same material.

According to Doris Estrada, the plastic divisions by number is identifiedn as follows:

• #1: Corresponds to water or soda bottles.
• #2: It covers plastics such as those containing orange juice or chlorine.
• #3: Represents materials made with PVC
• #4: It refers to the bags.
• #5: Includes cups, bowls or pachons.
• #6: It is Expanded Polystyrene (known as duroport) which in Guatemala is not recyclable.
• #7: It involves dozens of unsorted types of plastic that there is no way to recycle.

New life to plastic

Given the diversity of plastics, it is worth asking What is the simplest and best way to recycle them from home?. Even so, it is important to highlight that for the most part, the most common They are usually bottles, bags or packaging.

• New containers: Products such as ice cream, yogurt, and even fast food containers can be used as new containers to store food and grains, as if they were “tuppers.”

• Pots: The different bottles can be cut in their diameter to be filled with soil and seeds. Hanging pots can also be made by opening several holes in the sides and growing small cuttings.

• Seedbeds: After filling a bottle with bird seed, and poking a few holes into the sides of the container for birds to approach, you will have an easy-to-make seedbed. This can be hung following opening a hole in the plug and tying a thread.

• Plastic bricks: Plastic bricks are used for ecological architecture walls. These are made following having placed so many wrappers or plastic bags inside an empty, clean bottle, until the container hardens.

• Multipurpose bags: In addition to being used to protect waste in a trash can, the bags can be used for cleaning purposes (like gloves) and even in hair to protect the dye in the hair of the people who dye it. They can also be reused every time you make purchases.

• A cord: With plastic bags you can make a jump rope. This will be achieved following cutting the plastic bags into strips of two centimeters and joining them with knots to obtain six long strips of two meters each. Then the six strips are tied at one end and braided with electrical tape.
• Tapas for everything: Pencil holders, abacuses, cup holders and staves are some of the shapes that can be achieved with plastic lids, following being washed and molded with glue materials.

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