Plastic cup facts for kids
A plastic cup is a cup made from plastic. People often use them to hold drinks. Some plastic cups can be used many times, while others are made to be used only once. After one use, these cups are usually recycled or thrown away.
Disposable plastic cups are very handy for parties or large gatherings. They are great when it's hard to wash many dishes, like at a picnic or a big event. Plastic cups can hold most cold liquids well. However, very hot drinks might make the plastic melt or change shape.
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Plastic Cups and the Environment
- Further information: Plastic waste
Most plastic cups are made for single use. This means you use them once and then they are either disposed of or recycled. When we look at how plastic cups affect the environment compared to paper cups, it's a bit complicated. Both have their own environmental impacts.
Making Plastic Cups
To make about 1,000 kilograms (which is 1 metric ton) of plastic cups, about 61 kilograms of greenhouse gases are released into the air. These gases can contribute to climate change.
How Long Do They Last?
When deciding between paper cups and plastic cups, it's important to think about what happens to them after you use them. A paper cup can break down naturally much faster than a plastic cup. Most paper cups are made from wood chips, and they can biodegrade in about one to three months.
On the other hand, a plastic cup can take a very long time to break down. Depending on the type of plastic, it can take up to 90 years for a plastic cup to biodegrade. This means they can stay in landfills or the environment for a very long time.
Where Do They Come From?
Plastic cups are made from petroleum, which is also known as oil. Oil is a non-renewable resource. This means we can't make more of it quickly once it's used up. Paper cups, however, come from trees. If these trees are from sustainably managed forests, it means new trees are planted to replace the ones that are cut down.
Are They Safe?
Some plastic cups, especially those made from a type of plastic called polystyrene, might have a small risk. Chemicals from the plastic could possibly mix with your drink. This is more likely to happen if you put hot drinks like hot chocolate, tea, or coffee into these cups. It's less of a concern with cold drinks.
