WEBVTT 00:00.233 --> 00:05.066 position:25% line:84.67% size:65% (Science Trek music) 00:05.066 --> 00:06.233 position:17.5% line:84.67% size:72.5% JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN, HOST: 00:06.233 --> 00:07.800 position:10% line:84.67% size:80% Some types of garbage cause more 00:07.800 --> 00:09.000 position:22.5% line:84.67% size:67.5% problems than others. 00:09.000 --> 00:10.300 position:10% line:84.67% size:80% Plastics make their way into the 00:10.300 --> 00:11.200 position:42.5% line:84.67% size:47.5% ocean. 00:11.200 --> 00:12.466 position:12.5% line:84.67% size:77.5% Scientists estimate there are 00:12.466 --> 00:13.800 position:15% line:84.67% size:75% somewhere between four point 00:13.800 --> 00:15.366 position:10% line:84.67% size:80% eight and 12 point seven metric 00:15.366 --> 00:16.733 position:10% line:84.67% size:80% tons of plastic floating around 00:16.733 --> 00:17.766 position:37.5% line:84.67% size:52.5% the ocean. 00:17.766 --> 00:19.066 position:15% line:84.67% size:75% Ocean currents have gathered 00:19.066 --> 00:20.466 position:10% line:84.67% size:80% discarded plastics into massive 00:20.466 --> 00:21.466 position:42.5% line:84.67% size:47.5% piles. 00:21.466 --> 00:23.033 position:10% line:84.67% size:80% The great pacific garbage patch 00:23.033 --> 00:25.066 position:15% line:84.67% size:75% is twice the size of Texas. 00:25.066 --> 00:26.466 position:17.5% line:84.67% size:72.5% And plastic doesn't decay. 00:26.466 --> 00:28.433 position:10% line:84.67% size:80% It degrades into microplastics, 00:28.433 --> 00:29.900 position:12.5% line:84.67% size:77.5% small beads that are swallowed 00:29.900 --> 00:31.433 position:12.5% line:84.67% size:77.5% by marine animals and can kill 00:31.433 --> 00:32.400 position:42.5% line:84.67% size:47.5% them. 00:32.400 --> 00:33.766 position:20% line:84.67% size:70% Another problem waste is 00:33.766 --> 00:34.766 position:35% line:84.67% size:55% electronics. 00:34.766 --> 00:36.166 position:10% line:84.67% size:80% Every year, Americans throw out 00:36.166 --> 00:37.600 position:20% line:84.67% size:70% 130 million cell phones. 00:37.600 --> 00:38.833 position:12.5% line:84.67% size:77.5% We throw out other electronics 00:38.833 --> 00:40.233 position:15% line:84.67% size:75% like, old televisions, game 00:40.233 --> 00:41.733 position:20% line:84.67% size:70% consoles, and computers. 00:41.733 --> 00:42.966 position:15% line:84.67% size:75% All these things are called 00:42.966 --> 00:44.000 position:37.5% line:84.67% size:52.5% E-waste. 00:44.000 --> 00:45.366 position:10% line:84.67% size:80% E-wastes contain valuable things 00:45.366 --> 00:46.533 position:22.5% line:84.67% size:67.5% like silver, gold, and 00:46.533 --> 00:47.466 position:37.5% line:84.67% size:52.5% palladium. 00:47.466 --> 00:48.800 position:12.5% line:84.67% size:77.5% But these metals are difficult 00:48.800 --> 00:49.800 position:35% line:84.67% size:55% to extract. 00:49.800 --> 00:51.100 position:15% line:84.67% size:75% E-waste also contains things 00:51.100 --> 00:52.566 position:10% line:84.67% size:80% like lead and mercury, that can 00:52.566 --> 00:53.833 position:15% line:84.67% size:75% seep into the soil and water 00:53.833 --> 00:55.233 position:15% line:84.67% size:75% and poison the environment. 00:55.233 --> 00:56.566 position:12.5% line:84.67% size:77.5% There are lots of things that 00:56.566 --> 00:57.966 position:10% line:84.67% size:80% need to be disposed of properly 00:57.966 --> 00:59.133 position:17.5% line:84.67% size:72.5% and not just tossed in the 00:59.133 --> 01:00.233 position:42.5% line:84.67% size:47.5% trash. 01:00.233 --> 01:01.400 position:17.5% line:84.67% size:72.5% For more information about 01:01.400 --> 01:02.666 position:12.5% line:84.67% size:77.5% garbage, check out the Science 01:02.666 --> 01:03.666 position:12.5% line:84.67% size:77.5% Trek website. You’ll find it 01:03.666 --> 01:04.866 position:25% line:84.67% size:65% at ScienceTrek.org