Question

Categorize the materials of the following products into ‘can be recycled and ‘cannot be recycled’. Telephone instruments, plastic toys, cooker handles, carry bags, ballpoint pens, plastic bowls, plastic covering on electrical wires, plastic chairs, and electrical switches.

Answer 1

• Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. Recycling waste products is very important as it helps in processing waste or used products into useful or new products. Recycling also helps in controlling air, water, and land pollution. It uses less energy. There are a number of items that can be recycled. For e.g. Paper, plastic, glass, etc.
• Electrical switches, cooker handle plastic, and telephone are made up of bakelite which is thermosetting plastic which means once it is molded it cannot be remolded and will not melt on heating that is the reason they are used at a place where there is a high temperature. While the rest are thermoplastics that can be remolded in different shapes again and that's why can be recycled.

List of products that can be recycled and cannot be recycled.

Can be Recycled	Cannot be recycled
Plastic chairs	Cooker handles plastic
Plastic toys	Electrical switches
Plastic bowls	telephone
The plastic covering on electrical wires
Carry bags
Ballpoint pens