Recycling Materials (OCR GCSE Chemistry A (Gateway))

Recycling Materials

• Everyday materials such as glass, metal, plastics, ceramics are produced from natural but finite sources

• Some products made from these materials can be reused which saves energy and decreases the environmental impact

• Glass bottles only need to be washed and sterilised before they can be reused

• Other products cannot be reused in this way but can be processed and recycled

• Metals can be crushed into smaller pieces, then melted and recast into new shapes to make new products 

• Sometimes the materials being recycled need to be kept separate, depending on what the use of the recycled material will be

• Iron for example can be recycled together with waste steel as both materials can be added to a blast furnace, reducing the use of iron ore

• Glass that is broken or damaged and cannot be reused is separated by colour and composition before being recycled

• The glass is then crushed and melted, and remoulded into shape for its new use

• Overall, recycling:

  • conserves limited raw materials,

  • reduces the release of harmful substances into the environment

  • reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill

Iron ore supplies can be conserved and will last longer if iron is recycled

Factors Affecting Recycling

• Several factors are considered in regards to whether a product should be recycled including:

  • how easy it is to collect and sort the waste

  • the cost of recycling compared to burning the product (incineration) or sending to landfill 

  • the amount of energy required at each stage of recycling 

  • the type and amount of any harmful by products released by recycling

• Disadvantages of recycling arise from the process itself:

  • Collection and transport of material to be recycled requires energy and fuel

  • Workers, vehicles and worksites need to be organised and maintained

  • Materials need to be sorted before they can be recycled which also requires energy and labour

  • Products made from recycled materials may not always be of the same quality as the original