Discuss the importance of the numbering system for plastic in our live
Answers
The versatility of plastic materials comes from the ability to mold, laminate or shape them, and to tailor them physically and chemically. There is a plastic suitable for almost any application. Plastics do not corrode, though they can degrade in UV (a component of sunlight) and can be affected by solvents
However, because many plastics are so durable and do not corrode, they create considerable disposal problems. They are not good for the landfill as many will persist for hundreds of years and when incinerated, dangerous gases can be produced. Many supermarkets now give us one-time grocery bags — leave them in a cupboard for a year and all you will have left is dust
We are getting wiser, though, and now many plastics can be chemically, mechanically, or thermally recycled.