Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. urge
    • ex. Teachers urge their students to study hard before the final exam.
  2. packaging
    • ex. Safe packaging keeps our food fresh and clean during long trips.
  3. a landfill
    • ex. Big trucks move our household trash to a landfill outside the city every morning.
  4. process
    • ex. The factory can process used paper into clean notebooks for school children.
  5. reuse
    • ex. Please reuse your plastic water bottle instead of buying a new one.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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Experts are urging people to recycle plastic bags correctly as plastic waste continues to grow in the United States. Soft plastics such as grocery bags, bubble wrap, and food packaging are difficult to recycle. If they go to a landfill, they can remain there for hundreds of years and release harmful microplastics into the environment. Environmental officials said more than three million tons of plastic bags and wraps were sent to American landfills in 2018.

Experts say plastic bags should not be placed in normal household recycling bins because they can block recycling machines. Instead, many grocery and convenience stores provide special drop-off bins for plastic films. After collection, companies process and reuse the plastics to make products such as outdoor furniture. Chemical engineer Erha Andini said people should learn better ways to manage plastic waste because global plastic production is still increasing.

Environmental groups are also encouraging people to reduce their use of plastic films. Shoppers can carry reusable bags to avoid unnecessary plastic packaging when possible. Experts also recommend using old plastic bags again for several shopping trips or small trash cans at home.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.
Photo Credits: The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Plastic Bags

  • The article mentions that experts recommend using old plastic bags again for several shopping trips. What do you think about this idea? Discuss.
  • Do you usually reuse old plastic bags? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Imagine that your country completely stops businesses and people from using plastic bags starting next month. How would people in your country react to this new law? Discuss.

Recycling and Reusing Plastics

  • The article says that many stores have special bins to collect plastic films, which companies then process and reuse to make things like outdoor furniture. What do you think of processing and reusing plastics to make a new product? Discuss.
  • In your experience, is it easy or difficult for people to recycle and reuse plastic waste correctly? Why do you say so? Discuss.
  • Imagine that your country's leaders decide to build a plastic recycling center in every town. What do you think would happen to the plastic waste in your country? Discuss.