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Sorting Recycled Trash: An Activity for Earth Day 2007

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Mary E. Harris

John Burroughs School, St. Louis, MO 63124-1899

Harold H. Harris

Department of Chemistry and Education, University of Missouri–St. Louis, MO 63121

J. Chem. Educ., 2007, 84 (2), p 207

DOI: 10.1021/ed084p207

Publication Date (Web): February 1, 2007

Abstract

Students are usually oblivious to the fate of discarded materials, and particularly to how recyclables must be processed in order to re-enter the manufacturing stream. In this activity, middle or high school students separate commingled recyclable trash to simulate sorting in a recycling center. Like many such real centers, this imaginary "solid waste recycle and reuse center" accepts newspaper, steel cans, aluminum, glass, LDPE bags, PETE bottles, and HDPE containers. Sorting is the first step in this process. Students design a recycle plant system that constitutes an "automated" process of sorting recyclables. Knowledge of physical properties of the components of "trash" must be applied. This is an open inquiry activity that requires students to apply concepts they have learned previously. There is no one "right" answer. A flow chart and conveyor belt are designed by a team of students that show how they separated their components in the waste stream of their factory.

Keywords (Audience):

High School / Introductory Chemistry

Keywords (Domain):

Environmental Chemistry

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Inquiry-Based / Discovery Learning

Keywords (Subject):

Physical Properties

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This article has been cited by 1 ACS Journal articles (1 most recent appear below).

A Novel, Simplified Scheme for Plastics Identification
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Journal of Chemical Education2010 87 (2), 147-149
- A Novel, Simplified Scheme for Plastics Identification
  Mary E. Harris, Barbara Walker
  Journal of Chemical Education2010 87 (2), 147-149
  In this Activity, students identify samples of seven types of recyclable plastic by using a flowchart scheme. The flowchart procedure includes making density comparisons of the plastic samples in water and alcohol and observing physical changes of plastic ...
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