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(Science Trek music)

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JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN, HOST:

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Some types of garbage cause more

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problems than others.

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Plastics make their way into the

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ocean.

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Scientists estimate there are

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somewhere between four point

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eight and 12 point seven metric

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tons of plastic floating around

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the ocean.

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Ocean currents have gathered

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discarded plastics into massive

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piles.

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The great pacific garbage patch

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is twice the size of Texas.

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And plastic doesn't decay.

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It degrades into microplastics,

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small beads that are swallowed

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by marine animals and can kill

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them.

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Another problem waste is

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electronics.

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Every year, Americans throw out

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130 million cell phones.

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We throw out other electronics

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like, old televisions, game

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consoles, and computers.

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All these things are called

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E-waste.

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E-wastes contain valuable things

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like silver, gold, and

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palladium.

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But these metals are difficult

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to extract.

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E-waste also contains things

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like lead and mercury, that can

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seep into the soil and water

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and poison the environment.

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There are lots of things that

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need to be disposed of properly

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and not just tossed in the

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trash.

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For more information about

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garbage, check out the Science

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Trek website. You’ll find it

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at ScienceTrek.org