EARTH AND ROCKS - Recycling

Question 1

Where do resources come from?

Answer 1

All materials we use come from the Earth’s crust or atmosphere.

Question 2

What is recycling?

Answer 2

Collecting and processing materials that have been used to be used again.

Question 3

What are some examples of recycling?

Answer 3

1. Recycling paper to make new paper
2. Recycling plastic bottles to make fleeces
3. Recycling aluminium cans into aluminium sheets to make more aluminium cans

Question 4

Describe the process of how aluminium is recycled

Answer 4

1. A lorry collects aluminium waste and takes it to a factory
2. Aluminium things are put in a shredder to remove decorations
3. A furnace heats the metal until it is a liquid.
4. Liquid aluminium is poured into a mould to make an aluminium ingot
5. The ingot is heated to 600°C to soften it
6. Huge rollers roll it into sheets.
7. Sheets are made into new cans

Question 5

What are the advantages of recycling?

Answer 5

1. Resources will last longer
2. Uses less energy
3. Reduces waste and pollution.

Question 6

Why will resources last longer with recycling?

Answer 6

All resources will eventually run out, but with recycling, they can be reused instead of being used.

Question 7

Give an example of how recycling uses less energy.

Answer 7

It takes 255 MJ to extract 1kg of aluminium from its ore, but only 15 MJ to make 1kg of recycled aluminium.

Question 8

Give an example of how recycling reduces waste and pollution.

Answer 8

Extracting aluminium from its ore creates huge amounts of dangerous ‘red mud’ waste, but recycling doesn’t.

Question 9

What are the disadvantages of recycling?

Answer 9

1. Separating rubbish is a nuisance/takes time and effort.
2. The lorries that collect recycling use fuel and create pollution.

Question 10

Can you recycle everything?

Answer 10

Some materials are easier to recycle than others, but some are too difficult to recycle efficiently.