Biodegradable Plastics: Friend or Foe? (English Reading)
Plastics are everywhere. We use them for bags, bottles, and packaging. But plastic waste is a big problem for the environment. Biodegradable plastics are a new idea to solve this problem. Are they good (a friend) or bad (a foe)? Let’s learn about biodegradable plastics in simple English.
What Are Biodegradable Plastics?
Biodegradable plastics are special plastics. They can break down in the environment. Regular plastics stay in the environment for hundreds of years. Biodegradable plastics can disappear in a few months or years.
These plastics are made from plants like corn or sugarcane. Sometimes, they are mixed with regular plastic materials.
Why Are They a Friend?
Biodegradable plastics can help the environment:
- Less Pollution: They break down faster than regular plastics. This means less waste in landfills and oceans.
- Made from Plants: They use plants instead of oil. This is better for nature.
- Safer for Animals: Animals are less likely to eat or get stuck in them.
Why Are They a Foe?
Biodegradable plastics also have problems:
- Need Special Conditions: Some need heat or light to break down. If they go to a landfill, they might not decompose.
- Not Always Better: They can release harmful gases when they break down, like methane.
- Still Plastic: If they mix with regular plastic, it is hard to recycle them.
What Can We Do?
Biodegradable plastics are not a perfect solution. The best way to help the environment is to:
- Use less plastic.
- Recycle plastic when possible.
- Choose reusable items like cloth bags and metal bottles.
Biodegradable plastics can be a friend if we use them carefully and in the right way.
Fun Fact
Did you know? Regular plastic can take up to 1,000 years to disappear, but some biodegradable plastics can break down in six months!
Practice Questions
- What are biodegradable plastics?
- Name one good thing about biodegradable plastics.
- Name one problem with biodegradable plastics.
- Why is it important to recycle?
- Do you think biodegradable plastics are better than regular plastics? Why?
Tags (English Reading) (English Level: Beginner - For Learning English)
#LearnEnglish #BiodegradablePlastics #Environment #BeginnerReading #SimpleEnglish #EnglishPractice