C1:10 Polymer problems

Question 1

What can be added to poly(ethene) to make it biodegradable?

Answer 1

starch. When wet bacteria break down the starch, causing the plastic to crumble into tiny pieces.

Question 2

what two methods are there of disposing of non-biodegradable plastics?

Answer 2

Landfill and incineration

Question 3

Why is recycling plastics expensive?

Answer 3

because sorting the various plastics often has to be done by hand.

Question 4

Why is burning plastics a waste of a valuable resource?

Answer 4

because they were derived from crude oil which is a scares resource. I should be burnt in a way that conserves the energy as heat or electricity.