Club would encourage less plastic use limits the amount of plastic she buys, as well as other things like styrofoam and aerosol cans. Lynne Glass, who works at the Scott “I don’t buy a lot of things that come County Reuse Center, has an aunt and in plastic. I try to avoid as much as I can, uncle who managed a newspaper about and what I do buy that comes in plastic, recycling in the 1970s. like milk and liquid detergent, I can re“[They were] like old hipcycle…. I’ve never bought bottled pies, and they were involved water unless there was an early on with recycling,” emergency,” Glass said. said Glass, who works Glass’ actions, howClear, tough ever small they may for the Scott County Reuse Center seem, are making plastics in Scottsburg. an impact on the “They were … planet. Saving - water bottles in the beginthe planet is one - soft drink bottles ning of it all.” thing that motiGlass’ aunt vates her to reand uncle concycle more. vinced her to Sophomores write a few Avery Lytle articles for and Madelyn their newspaGosselin share per. She had the same ideals already been as Glass. They mindful of what are attempting to she uses due to introduce a new her upbringing on environmentalism a farm, but recyclub to Scottsburg cling was something High School. new. In 1979, those The purpose of the articles convinced Glass club is to “teach the comto make the switch to recymunity and students [how] cling herself. Since then, she has to reduce the [amount of] plastic been very aware of what she buys; she they are using,” Lytle said. Rita Nicholson Copy Editor
POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE
PLASTIC
USAGE BY THE NUMBERS By Baylee Comer
Plastics play an important role in every day life for the average high school student. Here are the plastics most used by the average person.
6
March 2020
Features
Lytle and Gosselin were inspired by to recycle,” Gosselin said. the effect that plastic pollution and polGlass agreed that the club would be luted waterways, such as the Ohio immensely beneficial, stating that River, have on the planet. education about how much They noticed how animoney one could save mals were affected by through recycling and the pollution and how recycling affects White or colored decided to bring the planet would plastics awareness to this encourage people problem by creto recycle more. ating an envi“I think [the - milk jugs ronmentalism club] would - shampoo bottles club. be great [and] - laundry detergent “The plaswo n d e r f u l ,” tic is hurtshe said. ing the sea “I think it life and the would have a ground,” Lyhuge impact. tle said. If [people] Their club could see the would help nastiness of bring about a [the garbage solution to the and plastic] and plastic probwhat it does to lem by bringing the fish, and the awareness to the animals, and us…” use of plastic and the The negative efbenefits of recycling fects of plastic heavily and reusing. Gosselin outweigh the benefits said said the club would put more Gosselin, even though she has recycling bins around the school made changes to her own life. and therefore promote awareness of plas“I’ve been more aware of what I’ve tic use. been using and … picking more things “I think [the club] would mostly make that can be recycled instead of going into the school cleaner and make people want a trash can,” she said.
HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENE
17.77 lbs
One person can use up to
of plastic cups and plates are used per person every year.
72.99 lbs of durable plastics per year.
24.27 lbs. of plastic bags, sacks and wraps are used and thrown away by only one person each year.
In total, the average person in North America uses approximately
220 lbs. of plastic per year.
8.98 lbs of HDPE plastics are used per person per year. This include bottles like milk jugs for example.
