Year 9 Science · Unit 2 · Lesson 19
Foundation Worksheet
Learning Goals
Match each term to its definition
Draw a line connecting each term on the left to its correct definition on the right. Or write the matching letter next to each term.
| Term | Your answer | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Bioplastic | A. A plastic made from renewable biological sources (e.g. corn starch or sugarcane) instead of petroleum. | |
| PLA | B. A model that keeps materials in use for as long as possible by closing loops, waste from one process becomes feedstock for another. | |
| PHA | C. NSW scheme that pays 10 cents per eligible container returned, creating a financial incentive to divert containers from landfill. | |
| Circular economy | D. Polylactic acid, a bioplastic from fermented plant starch; compostable only under industrial conditions. | |
| Return and Earn | E. Polyhydroxyalkanoates, bioplastics produced directly by bacteria; genuinely biodegradable in soil and seawater. | |
| Industrial symbiosis | F. A circular economy strategy where waste from one industry becomes the feedstock for another (e.g. blast furnace slag used in cement). |
Fill the gap
Choose the correct word from the word bank to complete the passage. Not all words will be used.
A is a plastic made from renewable biological sources rather than . The most widely used bioplastic is , made by fermenting plant starch into lactic acid monomer and then polymerising it. Importantly, PLA is only compostable under composting conditions, it does not break down in home compost or the ocean. Another type of bioplastic, called PHA, is produced directly by and is genuinely biodegradable in soil and seawater. The conventional economy follows a model (extract → make → use → dispose), whereas the economy aims to keep materials in use for as long as possible by closing loops. In NSW, the scheme pays 10 cents per eligible container returned, diverting billions of containers from landfill each year.
1. Explain the difference between PLA and PHA bioplastics. In your answer, state where each comes from and compare their biodegradability.
2. Describe ONE way in which NSW has tried to reduce plastic waste through policy or legislation. Explain how this initiative reduces the amount of material going to landfill.
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?