Introduction
The purpose of this module is to explore different material types which are commonly discarded as waste. By understanding how to identify materials and their properties, you will start to see materials such as plastics not as rubbish, but as valuable resources which can add value to communities and protect environments.
Understanding materials in resource recovery is essential to solving the global plastic epidemic. Plastic Collective was started with the aim to create ‘value’ and transform how people treat discarded plastic. We need to change attitudes, and eliminate the concept of waste. This is a fundamental principle of this unit – Materials as Resource.
Things that have no value to people are discarded, treated as waste, however when we value something it becomes a resource. “
– 2016 Louise Hardman, founder of Plastic Collective.
Course Learning outcomes
Throughout this course, you will become familiar with all material types which are critical to operating a resource recovery and recycling enterprise, including;
- u003cliu003eUnderstand why there is a global plastic problemu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eDescribe the difference between resource, waste and pollutionu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eIdentifying biological and technical nutrientsu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eUnderstand the origin and chemistry of plasticsu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eIdentify a range of plastic formations (forms)u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eUnderstand the Resin Identification Codes (RIC)u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eDescribe the properties of different plastic types and forms u003c/liu003e
Course Educator
This course is presented by Louise Hardman. Louise is the founder of social-enterprise Plastic Collective and has a background in Zoology, environmental education, as well as chemistry and marine biology teacher.
