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recycling

9/10/2015

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School had begun for everyone – you are establishing class expectations, school routines – even fire drills! – it’s a very exciting time.  I hope your classes have started great!
 
For inexpensive chemistry labs to expand your repertoire, buy my lab book
Chemistry on a Budget for $21 at amazon.com or $23 at lulu.com. 

Chemistry on a Budget contains several labs that are great for the beginning of the school year!  Topics used include Significant Figures, Density (2 labs) and Physical Separation techniques.

There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report.  This way the teacher has the option!  Each lab is two pages to allow for one two-sided handout. 

It will take a week or so to get to you, so Order Now!

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget

http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html

*Some of you have already purchased my lab book – be sure to check out Page 141 !

Most chemistry classes start with the basics,
Physical and Chemical Change.   As an extension of the topic, the current state of Recycling programs in the United States is an interesting discussion.

Here is a brief list of 11 Facts about Recycling:
https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-recycling

This is a 2 minute video about how the Materials Recovery Factories (MRFs) work:

This report discusses some of the problems with “Single Stream” recycling:
  http://www.npr.org/tags/141986640/recycling

“Consumers are part of the problem. While some people pat themselves on the back for the plastic bags and greasy pizza boxes they try to recycle, the MRFs [Materials Recovery Factories] can't process them.”

 I have to admit, I’ve put greasy pizza boxes in the recycling bin (red face)…

But
Does Recycling Work?  Here’s a 6 minute video discussion talking to a commentator I’ve featured in this blog many times:

Here is the 5 minute video What Prevents Recycling? referred to in the previous vi
The question of “Is Recycling Worth It?” is being discussed in this Scientific American article:  http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/is-recycling-worth-the-effort/

Here is a discussion of the Costs/Benefits of Recycling from
Popular Mechanics:
 
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a3752/4291566/

“If recycling is truly becoming profitable, then that should end the debate--we can simply let the market decide what to recycle. The problem…is that recycling markets don't function smoothly. If you drink a bottle of water, the apparent cost to you of throwing out the empty or recycling it are identical: zero. One way to create incentives for recycling is a "pay as you throw" policy, where homeowners pay for garbage collection based on the size of their garbage cans. More than 7000 communities, serving about a quarter of the U.S. population, have introduced this policy with success--their recycling rates are about 30 percent higher as a result.”

Recently, New York City is putting a moratorium on recycling for 18 months to save money:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=91824

“How much paper, glass and aluminum get on the market also affect how much money cities lose on their programs. Right now, these goods are generally commanding low prices.”

Here is another article about the drop in oil prices and how it has affected the cost of “virgin” vs. recycled plastic:

http://www.wsj.com/articles/recycling-becomes-a-tougher-sell-as-plastic-prices-drop-1428279575

The
Cost/Benefit of Recycling is a good topic for student research and discussion, and is handy for an Extra Credit assignment as well! 

This Blog contains several entries that would be helpful to your chemistry classroom.  Remember, you can check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.

The lab book
Chemistry on a Budget is very useful to your Chemistry classroom with labs and class article ideas.
Order Soon! 

Also, 
Write To Me about your successes, challenges, or questions in the Chemistry Classroom.

Have a good weekend!

  
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    Marjorie R. Heesemann is a chemistry teacher with 15 years of experience who is now working to develop resources for the Chemistry classroom.

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