Instructions

1. As an Infant

PineappleBIRTH
Plastic bags begin as crude oil that is heated to produce ethylene gas and is then converted to polyethylene. The polyethylene is cut and then stretched like a string and into the shape of a plastic bag.

2. Toddler Years

PineappleLIFE SPAN
Whether used to carry groceries or lunch, most plastic bags are used only one time for an average of 20 minutes before being thrown away or recycled.

3. Childhood

PineappleINTERMISSION
Plastic bags take 85 times more energy to recycle than to create. More than 98% of plastic bags are discarded rather than recycled.

4. Adulthood

PineappleTHE NEXT, 1000 YEARS
Discarded plastic bags end up in landfills or the ocean. Scientists estimate that it can take up to 1,000 years for a plastic bag to disintegrate completely, releasing toxins as it decays.

(Greener Ideal Staff, 2017)

Plastic Bags Around the World

• Italy and Belgium have taxes on plastic bags.

• Germany, Holland, Spain, and Norway charge shoppers for plastic bags.

• Ireland charges shoppers for plastic bags and use has dropped by 90%.

• Australia assesses fines up to $5,000 for stores that do not comply with the ban on bags.

• San Francisco was the first city in the United States to put a ban on plastic bags in March, 2007.
Pineapple

(Greener Ideal Staff, 2017)

Image of polution

What are Microplastics?

• Microplastics are very small fragments of plastic material.
• Microplastics on the beach—the abundant sunlight and high temperatures found on the beach degrade plastic faster. On the hot sand, plastic trash becomes brittle, cracks, and breaks down, adding to the great garbage patches found in the oceans.

(Beaudry, 201)

Question 1

On average, plastic bags are used once for usually __________ minutes.

A. 20
B. 5
C. 60
D. 10

Question 2

More than __________% of plastic bags are discarded rather than recycled.

A. 25
B. 75
C. 35
D. 98

Question 3

How long does it take for the average plastic bag to disintegrate?

A. 30 days
B. 500 years
C. 1,000 years
D. 20 years

Question 4

How could you help reduce the great garbage patches in the oceans?

A. Work with your community to put more trash and recycling bins on the beach.
B. An individual cannot help with this; the government will have to work on a solution.
C. Avoid beaches to avoid garbage patches.
D. Time will make the garbage patches disintegrate on their own.

Question 5

What makes plastic degrade faster?

A. Sunlight, High temperatures
B. Cold temperatures
C. Cloudy, rainy weather
D. Wind
E. Water

References

Beaudry, F. (2019, July 21). What are microplastics? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-are-microplastics-1204133

Greener Ideal Staff. (2017, May 4). The life cycle of a plastic bag [Infographic]. Retrieved from https://greenerideal.com/infographics/life-cycle-of-a-plastic-bag/

WWF. (2018, June 19). The lifecycle of plastics. Retrieved from https://www.wwf.org.au/news/blogs/the-lifecycle-of-plastics#gs.wcd50d