Student worksheet

Thought-starters: "What would you do if you made a drink of cordial that tastes too strong? Can you separate the water and cordial?

1. Recall what materials are being sorted at the MRF - Materials Recovery Facility?

Experiment 1 - Materials attracted to a magnet

Which materials are attracted to a magnet?

How can this be used to sort waste?

Experiment 2 – Making an aluminium can move

1. Touch the magnet against an aluminium can. What happens?

2. Lay the can on its side so the lid faces you. Move the magnet back and forth over the can. Did the can react?

3. Try to move the magnet faster. Did the can have a stronger reaction?

4. How is magnetism different for aluminium compared with steel?

Experiment 3 – Plastics sink or swim: Part A

Write down the number on the plastic. Test to see if it floats or sinks in the tap water and then the salt water.

Number of plastic:

Experiment 4 – Plastics sink or swim: Part B

Write down the number on the plastic. Test to see if it floats or sinks in the tap water and then the salt water.

Number of plastic:

Experiment 5 – Plastics sink or swim: Part C

Write down the number on the plastic. Test to see if it floats or sinks in the tap water and then the salt water.

Number of plastic:

Closing the loop

After watching the video, produce a labelled diagram of the cycle of an aluminium can from the time it is purchased and used, to the time it has been recycled and back on a store’s shelf. Explain on the diagram what happens at each stage.

What does 'closing the loop' mean?

Extension – Contamination

Recycling materials can be contaminated with unwanted materials that can cause a range of problems. Examples of contamination are:

Plastic bags can get caught in machinery at the MRF - Materials Recovery Facility.
Ovenware glass, toughened glass etc. in a batch of recycled bottles will make the entire batch of glass worthless. It causes the new glass products to crack.
Food waste will cause the paper to rot and grease will also mess up the paper.

Go to your Council's website. Find the section about recycling. Then find out what advice the Council provides to reduce contamination in recycling.

These Planet Ark resources were developed by Cool.org with funding from the Alcoa Foundation.

National Recycling Week - Separating Mixtures

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