Методологическая разработка по английскому языку на тему «Biodegradable plastic bags»

МЕТОДОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ РАЗРАБОТКА ПО АНГЛИЙСКОМУ ЯЗЫКУ

НА ТЕМУ «BIODEGRADABLE PLASTIC BAGS»

Warm-up

·         Do you use plastic bags?

·         Are they eco-friendly?

·         What is a biodegradable plastic bag?

Vocabulary

Read the text

Biodegradable plastic bags aren't biodegrading. It looks like biodegradable bags only really got the bag part down.

Humans love plastic. Unfortunately the environment isn't a huge fan. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that it could take hundreds of years for human-made products to break down depending on the type of materials they're made from and the conditions they're exposed to.

Biodegradable plastic bags seem to be an eco-friendly answer to our plastic problem. But a recent study has revealed that they may not be living up to the hype. Researchers from the University of Plymouth found that some biodegradable bags do not break down even after three years of natural exposure. According to the study published in the journal ‘Environmental Science and Technology’, they compared five different types of bags:

·         two kinds of oxide biodegradable bags

·         a biodegradable bag

·         a compostable bag

·         a normal plastic bag

The team exposed the bags to air water and soil for extended periods of time to test the rate of degradation. Results show that after three years of exposure to soil the biodegradable, auxo biodegradable and normal plastic bags could still be used to carry things without breaking apart. The compostable bag broke down completely in water within three months, but was still present in soil after 27 months of exposure.

Truth is just buying and using biodegradable products doesn't ensure these will break down more easily. The researchers emphasize that a lot of it has to do with how you dispose of said products. For example, compostable bags do break down if they are well disposed of in compostable waste. But not all countries have compostable waste systems. Richard Thompson, a professor involved in the research, said in a press release: “It concerns me that these novel materials also present challenges in recycling. Our study emphasizes the need for standards relating to degradable materials clearly outlining, the appropriate disposal pathway and rates of degradation that can be expected”.

 URL: https://youtu.be/qUk6CHpBBWs

Answer the questions

1.       What are biodegradable plastic bags?

2.       What is the doubt about biodegradable plastic bags?

3.       How long could it take for human-made products to break down?

4.       What does it depend on?

5.       Why did people started to produce biodegradable plastic bags?

6.       What has a recent study revealed?

7.       What were the study results?

8.       What do researches emphasize?

9.       Do all countries have compostable waste systems?

10.   What need does the study emphasize?

Follow-up

·         What companies produce biodegradable plastic bags in Russia?

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