100:02:08,034 --> 00:02:12,068PLASTIC FANTASTIC200:05:39,037 --> 00:05:43,036- Look!- Does it look like I care?300:05:43,036 --> 00:05:47,867I don't know.But this could become a story.400:05:47,867 --> 00:05:52,834- Enlighten me.- Here's an electricity bill.500:05:52,933 --> 00:05:58,933You can see their lunch:chicken, potatoes...600:06:00,630 --> 00:06:05,562He didn't pay his phone bill,but he eats salmon.700:06:05,562 --> 00:06:10,496What else? All kinds of stuffhere. Quite needlessly, too.800:06:11,360 --> 00:06:14,527We know more about themthan their family doctor.900:06:15,293 --> 00:06:16,493Aren't we lucky!1000:06:19,857 --> 00:06:24,823Plastic is interesting,because it makes up a lot of waste.1100:06:24,823 --> 00:06:29,523It's a common form of wastein our modern way of living.1200:06:31,388 --> 00:06:36,252If we separateplastic packaging,1300:06:36,252 --> 00:06:39,286paper and glass packaging,1400:06:39,751 --> 00:06:44,618and organic wastefrom plants,1500:06:44,850 --> 00:06:50,617there is actuallyvery little waste left1600:06:50,648 --> 00:06:53,615that goesinto the "black" bin.1700:06:54,114 --> 00:06:58,646We researched the recyclinghabits of Slovenians1800:06:58,646 --> 00:07:00,413by going throughtheir rubbish.1900:07:00,445 --> 00:07:06,343We inspected randomunsorted waste bins in five towns.2000:07:06,343 --> 00:07:09,710The only conditionrequired was2100:07:09,742 --> 00:07:13,809that they were right nextto the recycling containers.2200:08:20,121 --> 00:08:22,520It turned out that peoplein blocks of flats,2300:08:22,520 --> 00:08:27,319who shared recycling bins,weren't being very consistent.2400:08:27,319 --> 00:08:32,184We believe a major reasonis poor control procedures.2500:08:32,184 --> 00:08:36,283Everything is on hand,but few people recycle.2600:08:36,283 --> 00:08:39,116And what werethe results?2700:08:40,549 --> 00:08:44,413Number five was glass.Number four, unsorted waste.2800:08:44,413 --> 00:08:47,847Number three, organic waste,number two, paper.2900:08:48,179 --> 00:08:51,046And the winner wasplastic!3000:08:51,711 --> 00:09:00,942When I want to disposeof something, I must decide,3100:09:00,942 --> 00:09:05,642whether it is packagingor organic waste.3200:09:03,775 --> 00:09:07,673Every householdbears a responsibility0:09:05.674,1193:02:47.295No one dictates to me whatto buy, it's my decision.3300:09:07,673 --> 00:09:11,606for the family's attitudetowards waste.3400:09:18,803 --> 00:09:20,936- See?- Unbelievable!3500:09:20,936 --> 00:09:24,901- People don't recycle enough.- Do you have a turn-off button?3600:09:24,901 --> 00:09:28,734If they did, we wouldn'tbe hauling all this3700:09:28,734 --> 00:09:31,234to the landfills.- What are you saying?3800:09:31,699 --> 00:09:34,733- Everything is available.- What?3900:09:39,531 --> 00:09:43,530The politics and legislationof waste management4000:09:43,530 --> 00:09:47,463are introducinga five-step approach.4100:09:48,294 --> 00:09:52,293We should avoidthe accumulation of waste,4200:09:52,293 --> 00:09:54,226also by buying less.4300:09:54,226 --> 00:09:58,058If we do buy a product,we should reuse it,4400:09:58,058 --> 00:10:00,157rather thanjust discarding it.4500:10:00,157 --> 00:10:05,090If it is past its usefulness,we recycle it.4600:10:06,855 --> 00:10:08,888If it is madeof unrecyclable plastic,4700:10:08,888 --> 00:10:11,788we can at leastuse it as fuel.4800:10:11,821 --> 00:10:14,821Only in stage five,as a final step,4900:10:14,853 --> 00:10:18,753should a productend up at a landfill.5000:10:19,619 --> 00:10:22,685Despite the sorting of waste,too little is recycled5100:10:22,718 --> 00:10:25,650and too muchis thrown away.5200:10:25,650 --> 00:10:29,648The government and ecologistsencourage the sorting.5300:10:29,648 --> 00:10:33,615Waste in Sloveniais now managed locally,5400:10:34,314 --> 00:10:38,313but will soon beat a regional level.5500:10:38,313 --> 00:10:43,246Several systems makewaste more manageable.5600:10:44,211 --> 00:10:47,344"Recycling containers"5700:10:50,075 --> 00:10:53,142Municipalities chose their ownsystem of waste collection5800:10:53,174 --> 00:10:55,541and also the coloursof the bins.5900:10:55,541 --> 00:10:58,440Different municipalitiesuse different colours,6000:10:58,440 --> 00:11:02,407a recipe for confusion, whenyou are looking for the right bin.6100:11:02,439 --> 00:11:08,006Recycling bins becamemandatory in 2001,6200:11:08,037 --> 00:11:11,937yet within 10 years did notbring about required results.6300:11:12,236 --> 00:11:16,201It became clearthat a completely new system6400:11:16,201 --> 00:11:20,100of waste separationshould be put in place.6500:11:20,100 --> 00:11:23,899If a system does not yieldresults in 10 years,6600:11:23,899 --> 00:11:27,964something is wrong withthe system, not just the users.6700:11:27,964 --> 00:11:30,964Not everythingis bleak, though.6800:11:31,830 --> 00:11:36,763Certain web sites give adviceon how to separate waste.6900:11:37,695 --> 00:11:40,795The "Where to with waste"web application was born,7000:11:41,460 --> 00:11:44,694because the systemis not uniform.7100:11:45,425 --> 00:11:50,491A municipality may useone bin for plastic7200:11:50,491 --> 00:11:55,322and another one for metal,such as cans.7300:11:55,322 --> 00:11:59,289Another municipality may usea single bin for the two.7400:11:59,321 --> 00:12:02,220People migrate a lot,7500:12:02,220 --> 00:12:05,219and there's confusion,no doubt.7600:12:05,219 --> 00:12:09,185You type in the townyou want to know about:7700:12:09,185 --> 00:12:13,117do I put somethingin this colour bin7800:12:13,117 --> 00:12:17,917or in a bin with anotherlabel and another colour?7900:12:20,182 --> 00:12:23,814Because plastic is lightand takes up a lot of space,8000:12:23,814 --> 00:12:27,847bins with a built-in crusherare in development.8100:12:28,545 --> 00:12:35,245Some bins in Western Europegive an alert when they are full.8200:12:36,943 --> 00:12:39,877"The Door-to-door system"8300:12:40,909 --> 00:12:44,742We set upa completely new system.8400:12:45,707 --> 00:12:50,606It was patented in 2006 as a newmodel for waste separation.8500:12:50,606 --> 00:12:55,537The packaging which isdiscarded daily at home8600:12:55,537 --> 00:12:59,570in great quantitiesand takes up a lot of space,8700:12:59,570 --> 00:13:05,301can now simply be put in one bagand left at one's doorstep.8800:13:05,301 --> 00:13:11,166If people can discardall of it in a single bag8900:13:11,166 --> 00:13:13,232or put it in the yellow bin,9000:13:13,232 --> 00:13:18,999the amount of unsorted wastecan be drastically reduced.9100:13:19,864 --> 00:13:22,930"Householdwaste recycling centres"9200:13:24,828 --> 00:13:28,927HWRCs collect glass, paper,plastic, electronics,9300:13:28,927 --> 00:13:32,861textiles, oils, garden andconstruction waste and metal.9400:13:32,893 --> 00:13:36,692The waste will be acceptedat no extra cost,9500:13:36,692 --> 00:13:39,725so littering reallymakes no sense.9600:13:42,457 --> 00:13:44,590"Reuse centres"9700:13:47,455 --> 00:13:50,488An item thatwe no longer need9800:13:51,220 --> 00:13:55,219can be picked up and restoredby a Reuse centre.9900:13:55,219 --> 00:13:59,118The renewed itemsare then sold cheaply.10000:13:59,118 --> 00:14:03,117The centre retrains andemploys the disadvantaged10100:14:03,117 --> 00:14:07,084and contributes to thedevelopment of social businesses.10200:14:39,672 --> 00:14:42,639Do you know what elseI want to know?10300:14:42,639 --> 00:14:44,604Do tell.10400:14:44,604 --> 00:14:48,704When the waste is separated,where does it go?10500:14:49,370 --> 00:14:51,502- On the same pile.- You think?10600:14:51,502 --> 00:14:56,369People separate waste andwe throw it all back together?10700:14:56,400 --> 00:15:00,234- I don't think, I know.- Okay, we'll see.10800:15:09,131 --> 00:15:15,031Some rubbish trucks can bedivided into several sections.10900:15:15,062 --> 00:15:18,962It looks like one truck justpicks everything up again,11000:15:18,994 --> 00:15:22,792although the segmentsare collected separately11100:15:22,792 --> 00:15:25,825and are then alsomanaged individually.11200:15:25,825 --> 00:15:29,590Maybe this gave riseto the urban legend11300:15:29,590 --> 00:15:33,556that one truck pickseverything up and dumps it.11400:15:33,556 --> 00:15:36,488It is ironicwe produce durable materials11500:15:36,488 --> 00:15:39,454that get discardedimmediately after use.11600:15:39,454 --> 00:15:45,287But plastic has little value,so we are more wasteful with it.11700:15:47,685 --> 00:15:50,852"Landfills"11800:15:52,450 --> 00:15:55,482In 2011, according tonational statistics,11900:15:55,482 --> 00:16:00,448Slovenia generatedca 400kg of waste per capita.12000:16:00,448 --> 00:16:05,379The largest part, 60 %,ended up in landfills.12100:16:05,379 --> 00:16:10,312The simplest, yet most recklessway of waste disposal,12200:16:10,312 --> 00:16:13,211these landfillsare located in nature12300:16:13,211 --> 00:16:17,143and contain waste that shouldbe treated with greater care,12400:16:17,143 --> 00:16:21,042because it emits greenhousegasses as it decomposes.12500:16:21,042 --> 00:16:25,907The results seem contrary tothe aims of the five-step approach.12600:16:25,907 --> 00:16:30,739If we look at our neighbouringcountries like Austria,12700:16:30,739 --> 00:16:36,637where 3-5 kg of wasteper capita end up in landfills,12800:16:36,637 --> 00:16:41,535our goal should be feweror no landfills in Slovenia.12900:16:41,535 --> 00:16:45,367If we empty a ton of wasteinto a landfill,13000:16:45,367 --> 00:16:48,333it'll produce more methane,13100:16:48,333 --> 00:16:52,265which is 25-timesmore harmful than CO2,13200:16:52,265 --> 00:16:56,299than any otheremission source13300:16:57,064 --> 00:17:00,064of greenhouse gasses.13400:17:00,097 --> 00:17:05,028It does much more damageto the environment13500:17:05,028 --> 00:17:07,061than waste-to-energy.13600:17:07,794 --> 00:17:13,827So landfills are much moredamaging than any heat treatment.13700:17:16,958 --> 00:17:19,892"Waste-to-energy"13800:17:21,756 --> 00:17:25,722People mix upor even equate the terms13900:17:25,722 --> 00:17:28,688incinerationand heat treatment.14000:17:28,688 --> 00:17:32,653Traditional incineratorsfrom 20 years ago and more,14100:17:32,653 --> 00:17:36,619known around the world,which are now dated,14200:17:36,619 --> 00:17:39,586burn unsortedmunicipal waste14300:17:40,285 --> 00:17:44,485without any priorsorting stage.14400:17:45,216 --> 00:17:48,248Waste-to-energy facilitieshowever,14500:17:48,248 --> 00:17:52,182no longer accept mixedmunicipal waste.14600:17:52,214 --> 00:17:56,046Waste must beprepared as fuel.14700:17:56,046 --> 00:18:01,911They follow a recipe to producea specific fuel for the recipient.14800:18:01,911 --> 00:18:05,843Such facilities do not onlymake use of waste-to-energy,14900:18:05,843 --> 00:18:09,776but may also generateelectricity15000:18:09,776 --> 00:18:14,674or use new systems,such as pyrolysis,15100:18:14,674 --> 00:18:18,639which aim at producing15200:18:18,639 --> 00:18:22,572new resources, raw materialsfor new products.15300:18:22,572 --> 00:18:25,538This has provena very efficient tool15400:18:26,271 --> 00:18:28,370for waste management.15500:18:28,370 --> 00:18:33,201You have a better recordin waste management.15600:18:33,201 --> 00:18:37,100It is essential however,to use technologies15700:18:37,100 --> 00:18:41,132that prevent emissionsof hazardous substances.15800:18:41,132 --> 00:18:45,898These technologiesare known and available,15900:18:45,898 --> 00:18:48,831but we need to use them.16000:18:48,930 --> 00:18:52,964Heat treatment rivalssustainable waste management16100:18:53,628 --> 00:18:55,662like sorting and recycling,16200:18:55,662 --> 00:18:58,795but heat treatmentprolongs the life of landfills16300:18:58,827 --> 00:19:01,527and spares nature.16400:19:08,524 --> 00:19:13,524The problem in buildingsuch facilities in Slovenia is16500:19:13,556 --> 00:19:18,356that it is a huge investment.Too huge for our needs.16600:19:18,388 --> 00:19:21,455There are no suchfacilities in Slovenia.16700:19:22,154 --> 00:19:26,254We need to exportresidual waste16800:19:26,285 --> 00:19:28,252and pay quite a lot,16900:19:28,252 --> 00:19:32,117instead of buildinga waste-to-energy plant17000:19:32,117 --> 00:19:37,949and using unsorted wastein place of non-renewable sources,17100:19:37,949 --> 00:19:41,815which we must import anywayfor our thermal needs.17200:19:41,848 --> 00:19:44,713As a second to last optionwe acknowledge17300:19:44,713 --> 00:19:46,847that waste can bean energy source.17400:19:47,546 --> 00:19:51,611It's still better than landfills,where it remains forever.17500:19:51,611 --> 00:19:55,476Without waste-to-energywe won't reach our goals,17600:19:55,476 --> 00:19:58,409which followthe EU directives.17700:19:58,409 --> 00:20:03,441Countries withsuccessful waste management,17800:20:03,441 --> 00:20:08,306in Scandinavia in particular,all have waste-to-energy.17900:20:08,306 --> 00:20:15,306We can't be an exception.It makes us inefficient.18000:20:18,436 --> 00:20:21,369"Recycling"18100:20:23,235 --> 00:20:30,199In recycling you need toobtain enough material.18200:20:30,199 --> 00:20:34,133You can either use items,which are plentiful,18300:20:34,797 --> 00:20:40,797like plastic bottles, foils,bags, or industrial waste.18400:20:40,830 --> 00:20:45,063Recycling begins with planninga product, which is important.18500:20:45,561 --> 00:20:47,894Sorting is expensive,because it is mainly done by hand.18600:20:47,894 --> 00:20:52,559In mixed plasticmanagement,18700:20:52,559 --> 00:20:56,525not all sorts of plasticcan be separated.18800:20:56,525 --> 00:21:00,457Even if this couldbe done in principle,18900:21:00,457 --> 00:21:03,223it's not viable.19000:21:03,223 --> 00:21:08,154We don't have enoughand there's too much variety.19100:21:08,154 --> 00:21:12,120Standard labels should beused for this purpose.19200:21:12,120 --> 00:21:15,119Recycling meansreusing.19300:21:15,119 --> 00:21:18,852This is usuallymechanical recycling.19400:21:18,884 --> 00:21:23,884We try and preservethe polymer as it is.19500:21:23,917 --> 00:21:29,617We just mechanically treat,crush and clean it,19600:21:29,648 --> 00:21:33,481and then re-melt itfor reuse.19700:21:33,514 --> 00:21:37,612The quality of the materialproduced in this fashion19800:21:37,612 --> 00:21:43,945depends mainlyon the input material.19900:21:43,976 --> 00:21:48,109We can use a plastic bottleto make another plastic bottle.20000:21:48,109 --> 00:21:56,807Or we can make microfibers usedin the production of fleece.20100:21:56,807 --> 00:21:59,872With mixed plastic,on the other hand20200:21:59,872 --> 00:22:02,972you can producelower-quality materials20300:22:03,670 --> 00:22:09,503with greater impurities andinferior mechanical properties.20400:22:09,503 --> 00:22:14,036The price or the valueis also lower.20500:22:14,067 --> 00:22:18,533Only inorganic materialslike glass and metal20600:22:18,533 --> 00:22:20,366can be recycledindefinitely.20700:22:21,799 --> 00:22:25,864Plastic has organic structures,it's organic material,20800:22:25,864 --> 00:22:27,830which degrades20900:22:27,830 --> 00:22:32,629and gets chemically damaged,on a molecular level.21000:22:32,629 --> 00:22:37,560If we wanted to keepreusing the same material,21100:22:37,560 --> 00:22:43,427the number of reuseswould be very limited.21200:22:43,458 --> 00:22:50,323Maybe under ten. After thatthe material becomes useless.21300:22:50,323 --> 00:22:55,089This is generally speaking,because it depends on21400:22:55,089 --> 00:22:59,920where the plastic is,what it is exposed to and so on.21500:22:59,920 --> 00:23:03,952If you throw a plastic bottleamongst residual waste,21600:23:03,952 --> 00:23:07,819it is highly unlikelyit will be recycled.21700:23:07,851 --> 00:23:12,818If you throw it inthe right bin for plastic,21800:23:13,483 --> 00:23:17,516it will most likelyend up in recycling.21900:23:30,144 --> 00:23:35,111We separate cans, cartons,bottles and plastic film.22000:23:35,143 --> 00:23:38,975There's a lot of plastic film,all mashed together.22100:23:38,975 --> 00:23:41,875People should bemore careful.22200:23:41,875 --> 00:23:44,641They should check22300:23:44,674 --> 00:23:47,774what can be sortedand what should be discarded.22400:23:48,473 --> 00:23:52,571You open a bagand a dead cat falls out.22500:23:52,571 --> 00:23:55,470You find everything...22600:23:55,470 --> 00:23:58,403Rotten fish are the worst.22700:24:00,235 --> 00:24:04,135Plastic-sorting machinesprogress quickly.22800:24:04,168 --> 00:24:07,268Plastic is identifiedby infra-red sensors22900:24:07,967 --> 00:24:11,032and separatedby the use of air or flaps.23000:24:11,032 --> 00:24:14,899However, the human componentis still irreplaceable.23100:24:35,324 --> 00:24:39,357Why don't we havea refund system in Slovenia?23200:24:39,357 --> 00:24:43,122You are worse than a child.Why, why?23300:24:43,122 --> 00:24:46,221Remember Planica?They tried the refunds.23400:24:46,221 --> 00:24:50,054People returned two cans,then they got so drunk,23500:24:50,054 --> 00:24:53,853the cans were discardedall over the place.23600:24:53,853 --> 00:24:57,818Refunds... Maybe westill have too much money.23700:24:57,818 --> 00:25:02,885What you can't buy,you can't throw away.23800:25:03,583 --> 00:25:05,649Another honker!23900:25:05,649 --> 00:25:10,482- And you reuse things.- Oh, do shut up!24000:25:16,446 --> 00:25:18,512Oh, we're herealready?24100:25:21,444 --> 00:25:23,410Planica!24200:25:29,275 --> 00:25:34,108At public eventssorting is mandatory.24300:25:34,140 --> 00:25:38,040In Planica you pay a depositwhen you buy a drink.24400:25:38,072 --> 00:25:43,004When you return the container,the next drink is cheaper.24500:25:43,004 --> 00:25:47,736Unfortunately, peopleget drunk and don't care.24600:25:47,736 --> 00:25:52,736Refunds are in usein some countries.24700:25:53,435 --> 00:25:59,399There are various systems.We're most familiar with Croatia.24800:25:59,399 --> 00:26:07,433When you return the container,you get the deposit back.24900:26:08,996 --> 00:26:13,196Our system doesn'tuse deposits.25000:26:13,928 --> 00:26:18,861Maybe we just neverresearched the best way.25100:26:18,893 --> 00:26:24,960Austria and Germanyuse labels and codes,25200:26:25,558 --> 00:26:30,758so only their packagingcan be returned.25300:26:31,489 --> 00:26:35,556They preventthe import of packaging.25400:26:37,987 --> 00:26:41,086This was anotherconsideration in Slovenia.25500:26:41,086 --> 00:26:45,920If we compare the systemsin Croatia and Slovenia,25600:26:45,952 --> 00:26:49,950the refunding of the buyer25700:26:49,950 --> 00:26:53,749is not the only cost.25800:26:53,749 --> 00:26:57,715Within the pricetwice as much is intended25900:26:57,715 --> 00:27:01,480for the collectionand transportation26000:27:01,480 --> 00:27:05,413of used cansand plastic bottles.26100:27:05,413 --> 00:27:13,413In Slovenia, a packaging taxis paid for all packaged material,26200:27:14,043 --> 00:27:19,175and goals are also definedfor all packaging materials.26300:27:19,175 --> 00:27:23,040The tax is a costcompanies pay26400:27:23,040 --> 00:27:26,772for managingwaste packaging.26500:27:26,772 --> 00:27:30,638The tax coversthe cost of transport26600:27:30,638 --> 00:27:34,671from collection centresto recycling centres.26700:27:36,203 --> 00:27:41,035The cost is partly coveredby the price of the material,26800:27:41,035 --> 00:27:43,934the rest is paidin the form of tax.26900:27:43,934 --> 00:27:47,867More waste packagingis collected for less money,27000:27:47,900 --> 00:27:52,800and as consumers we pay lessfor more efficiency.27100:28:00,396 --> 00:28:04,395- You know what I don't get?- What now?27200:28:04,395 --> 00:28:08,294Why is a bin collector stillconsidered a dirty profession?27300:28:08,294 --> 00:28:11,294Because you stinkand you are dirty.27400:28:11,992 --> 00:28:15,158I wouldn't stinkif people recycled.27500:28:15,891 --> 00:28:17,891That's rich!27600:28:17,924 --> 00:28:21,855We're not that dirty.Less than chimney-sweeps.27700:28:21,855 --> 00:28:24,889When you see a chimney sweep,you make a wish.27800:28:24,889 --> 00:28:31,589When you see a binman,you just wish he'd hurry along.27900:28:32,186 --> 00:28:37,151Did you think about thatbefore you became a binman?28000:28:37,151 --> 00:28:38,985No.28100:28:39,784 --> 00:28:43,816What's the differencebetween products in shops28200:28:43,816 --> 00:28:47,682and products in here?Why don't people see28300:28:47,682 --> 00:28:50,682rubbishas an energy source?28400:28:50,714 --> 00:28:55,714It's primitive to justpile up everything.28500:28:56,479 --> 00:28:59,512The pile just getsbigger and bigger.28600:29:00,178 --> 00:29:04,311- But to process it...- Are you a doctor of some kind?28700:29:04,343 --> 00:29:06,177No.28800:29:07,209 --> 00:29:11,008To work with rubbishused to mean28900:29:11,008 --> 00:29:14,939that you were no goodfor anything else.29000:29:14,939 --> 00:29:18,972It meant that you workedwith something worthless.29100:29:18,972 --> 00:29:23,737Rubbish means somethingthat is redundant,29200:29:23,737 --> 00:29:27,570often dirtyor even dangerous,29300:29:27,570 --> 00:29:31,434so everyone wantsto get rid of it.29400:29:31,434 --> 00:29:34,467The sooner it disappears,the better.29500:29:34,467 --> 00:29:38,232Today waste meansraw materials, resources.29600:29:38,232 --> 00:29:43,099Once this gets across,attitudes will change.29700:29:44,897 --> 00:29:51,762We use over 90 % of oilto produce29800:29:51,762 --> 00:29:55,695energy for transport,heating and so on.29900:29:56,361 --> 00:30:02,492Only 4, 5 % of oil is usedin the production of plastics.30000:30:02,492 --> 00:30:06,158We put a lot of effortinto plastic,30100:30:06,158 --> 00:30:11,056but we almost completelyoverlook the 90 % of oil30200:30:11,056 --> 00:30:14,988that we use up in our carsand so on.30300:30:14,988 --> 00:30:20,786We're interested in the price,not the impact.30400:30:20,786 --> 00:30:24,753Slovenia is poor in termsof natural resources:30500:30:24,785 --> 00:30:31,085mines, precious metalsthat some other countries have.30600:30:31,116 --> 00:30:34,883But they are poor, becausethey can't use them effectively.30700:30:34,915 --> 00:30:36,515We have rubbish.30800:30:36,549 --> 00:30:39,548We should changethe term "waste",30900:30:39,548 --> 00:30:43,414because it ishistorically understood31000:30:43,446 --> 00:30:47,511as ugly, dirty and unwanted.31100:30:47,511 --> 00:30:56,178It's raw materialthat we still don't understand.31200:30:56,209 --> 00:31:00,576The wheel of your car is plastic,the gearbox, the dash board...31300:31:03,240 --> 00:31:07,373The fridge is fullof plastic wrappings...31400:31:08,072 --> 00:31:12,239Is anything plastic-free?It's everywhere. Everywhere!31500:31:12,903 --> 00:31:16,103You turn off the alarm clock,it's plastic.31600:31:16,103 --> 00:31:19,868You turn on the light,the switch, it is also plastic.31700:31:19,868 --> 00:31:22,701The toilet seat,plastic.31800:31:22,701 --> 00:31:25,734You flush,the tank is plastic.31900:31:25,734 --> 00:31:28,700Look around!Plastic is everywhere!32000:31:30,565 --> 00:31:33,498I don't see it.-Ok, not here...32100:31:33,531 --> 00:31:38,264This is plastic.I wrap food in plastic.32200:31:44,661 --> 00:31:50,494Plastic was inventedin the late 1800s.32300:31:50,526 --> 00:31:55,391They were searching formaterials32400:31:55,391 --> 00:31:59,223with new propertiesthat would be easy to produce.32500:31:59,223 --> 00:32:03,122At first the approachwas kind of alchemistic,32600:32:03,122 --> 00:32:06,087because the natureof polymers was not known,32700:32:06,087 --> 00:32:09,920and reusable sourceswere used:32800:32:09,920 --> 00:32:14,753cellulose,milk proteins and so on.32900:32:17,451 --> 00:32:21,651These materialswere relatively successful,33000:32:22,382 --> 00:32:29,314but the big step towardsthe plastic we know today33100:32:29,314 --> 00:32:35,347came with the arrivalof petrochemicals.33200:32:35,378 --> 00:32:40,945The oil industry enabledthe use of new raw materials33300:32:43,110 --> 00:32:48,974and they were then usedfor new types of plastic.33400:32:48,974 --> 00:32:51,907The types of plasticwe know today33500:32:51,907 --> 00:32:55,906became widely usedafter WW II.33600:32:55,906 --> 00:32:59,772The manufacturersonly want to sell the product33700:32:59,805 --> 00:33:03,604and few are concernedwith where it will end up.33800:33:03,604 --> 00:33:07,603Production is a problem, becauseit is cheaper than recycling,33900:33:07,603 --> 00:33:13,369and the types of plastic andits use are seemingly endless.34000:33:13,401 --> 00:33:17,267We look at an itemand say "plastic".34100:33:17,300 --> 00:33:23,064But these materials all varyin their chemical structure,34200:33:23,064 --> 00:33:28,031which makes them different,and in the way they are made.34300:33:28,662 --> 00:33:32,829Polystyrene can be usedto make a yoghourt cup34400:33:33,461 --> 00:33:36,627or to make Styrofoam.34500:33:36,627 --> 00:33:40,427Because chemicalstructures vary,34600:33:40,459 --> 00:33:46,324plastic can be water-soluble,biodegradable,34700:33:46,324 --> 00:33:50,123extremely heat resistant,34800:33:50,123 --> 00:33:56,590acid resistant,non-acid resistant, and so on.34900:33:58,487 --> 00:34:04,451We see it everywhere,but it also has unexpected uses.35000:34:04,451 --> 00:34:08,250Sometimes we arenot aware of it.35100:34:08,250 --> 00:34:13,283The inside of cans, for example,is lined with a polymer,35200:34:13,283 --> 00:34:18,149which separatesthe food from the metal.35300:34:18,914 --> 00:34:22,846It is presentin cigarette filters.35400:34:22,846 --> 00:34:28,578Few people know thatcigarette filters are plastic.35500:34:28,578 --> 00:34:33,377When you flickyour cigarette outside,35600:34:33,377 --> 00:34:37,443you are throwing away plasticwhich is non-degradable.35700:34:38,075 --> 00:34:42,107Plastic, therefore,is a cover term35800:34:42,107 --> 00:34:45,906for a huge groupof diverse materials.35900:34:45,906 --> 00:34:49,806This is one of theproblems we encounter36000:34:49,838 --> 00:34:53,638when we wantto reuse plastic.36100:34:55,603 --> 00:35:02,468Its main use is inpackaging, around 35 %,36200:35:02,468 --> 00:35:06,267which is quicklydiscarded.36300:35:06,267 --> 00:35:09,299We concentrateon plastic bags,36400:35:09,299 --> 00:35:14,130which are a tiny percentage.It's good as an illustration,36500:35:14,130 --> 00:35:18,963but it's counterproductiveto just battle plastic bags,36600:35:18,963 --> 00:35:22,796because we needa broader picture.36700:35:23,561 --> 00:35:27,626If we compare a plasticbag to a paper one,36800:35:27,626 --> 00:35:31,459life-cycle analysesusually show36900:35:31,459 --> 00:35:34,459that a plastic bag ismore efficient,37000:35:35,091 --> 00:35:39,289because it uses up lessresources and is functional.37100:35:39,289 --> 00:35:44,156A paper bag uses upmore resources like water37200:35:44,721 --> 00:35:46,955and also more material.37300:35:49,353 --> 00:35:52,518The most economicalare durable bags,37400:35:52,518 --> 00:35:58,218which can be usedover a period of time,37500:35:58,251 --> 00:36:02,216and usually evenplastic durable bags,37600:36:02,216 --> 00:36:07,050which seems contradictoryor unexpected.37700:36:13,246 --> 00:36:16,746Biodegradable plastic degradesinto natural products.37800:36:17,045 --> 00:36:19,744Biological factorsare important:37900:36:19,744 --> 00:36:23,444microorganisms identifyplastic as food.38000:36:27,008 --> 00:36:31,107Such plastic can be madefrom renewable sources,38100:36:31,107 --> 00:36:34,974like starch, and fromnon-renewable sources.38200:36:36,772 --> 00:36:41,571But when youfeel such a material -38300:36:41,571 --> 00:36:44,437this is biodegradable -38400:36:44,437 --> 00:36:48,335you won't knowit's biodegradable,38500:36:48,335 --> 00:36:52,168unless it is labelledas such.38600:36:52,200 --> 00:36:57,200Besides biodegradableplastic we also have plastic38700:36:57,766 --> 00:37:02,866which isn't biodegradable, butis made from renewable sources.38800:37:03,631 --> 00:37:09,529Polyethylene terephthalatused for plastic bottles38900:37:09,529 --> 00:37:12,428is not biodegradable,39000:37:12,428 --> 00:37:18,261but can be madefrom 100 % renewable sources.39100:37:18,892 --> 00:37:22,791Biodegradable plasticcauses other problems.39200:37:22,791 --> 00:37:25,658It's produced from food:39300:37:25,757 --> 00:37:31,790people around the worldare still starving39400:37:32,455 --> 00:37:35,555and we produceplastic from food.39500:37:35,587 --> 00:37:38,386This is controversial.39600:37:38,386 --> 00:37:41,452And I don't thinkit's completely proven39700:37:41,452 --> 00:37:46,251that this plasticis truly 100 % degradable.39800:37:46,251 --> 00:37:52,184Biodegradable plastic cancause problems in recycling.39900:37:53,916 --> 00:37:57,847You can't discern itfrom regular plastic,40000:37:57,847 --> 00:38:01,913and can end up in the samerecycling processes,40100:38:01,913 --> 00:38:04,745where it cancause problems.40200:38:04,745 --> 00:38:08,278On the other hand,biodegradable plastic40300:38:09,377 --> 00:38:15,344can never replaceall types of plastic.40400:38:16,142 --> 00:38:19,241The marine environmentand organisms are harmed40500:38:19,241 --> 00:38:22,207by 10 million tonsof mainly plastic waste,40600:38:22,207 --> 00:38:25,106which end upin the oceans every year40700:38:25,106 --> 00:38:31,439and turn them into the world'slargest plastic dump.40800:38:31,470 --> 00:38:34,837Waste is caused by polluterson the sea or land.40900:38:34,969 --> 00:38:37,603Plastic is dupedeverywhere,41000:38:37,635 --> 00:38:41,468and rivers then,carry it to the sea.41100:38:41,634 --> 00:38:45,967A separate categoryis waste from sewage outfall.41200:38:46,400 --> 00:38:51,231People useear buds or nose buds41300:38:51,231 --> 00:38:54,164and throw the rodinto the toilet.41400:38:55,030 --> 00:39:00,995It travels with sewageinto a river or the sea.41500:39:00,995 --> 00:39:04,894In the sea, plastic is exposedto various elements:41600:39:04,894 --> 00:39:09,726the sun, winds, water.And to marine organisms.41700:39:09,726 --> 00:39:14,826The plastic becomes brittleand falls apart quicker.41800:39:15,491 --> 00:39:18,657Marine waste samplingsare made in preparation41900:39:19,323 --> 00:39:23,488of the national plan withinthe EU environmental policy.42000:39:23,488 --> 00:39:28,221The Institute for Water monitorsmarine waste at the coast,42100:39:28,387 --> 00:39:30,920to unify the methodsand make them comparable.42200:39:30,952 --> 00:39:33,985Once a month we goto the Slovenian coast42300:39:33,985 --> 00:39:36,884to take samples of litter.42400:39:36,884 --> 00:39:41,017At three separatelocations on the coast,42500:39:41,716 --> 00:39:44,915we pick up all the litterbigger than 2 cm,42600:39:44,915 --> 00:39:49,848count it, describe it,weigh it and take pictures.42700:39:50,613 --> 00:39:54,712Plastic is prevalent,around 75 %,42800:39:54,712 --> 00:39:57,612like everywherein the world.42900:39:58,944 --> 00:40:02,911When comparing weight,plastic is still first,43000:40:02,942 --> 00:40:06,141followed byglass and ceramics.43100:40:06,141 --> 00:40:08,008Slovenia hostedinternational students43200:40:08,008 --> 00:40:11,240of marine biodiversityand conservation, EMBC.43300:40:11,240 --> 00:40:14,074The research of micro- andmacroplastics surprised them.43400:41:10,989 --> 00:41:13,855Microplasticscame to our attention43500:41:13,855 --> 00:41:17,855when a rubbish patch wasdiscovered in the N. Pacific,43600:41:17,887 --> 00:41:21,820where plastic particlesare trapped by the currents.43700:41:21,852 --> 00:41:26,684According to one estimation,the area is 3.5 million km2 wide.43800:41:26,684 --> 00:41:30,784The rubbish would coverSlovenia 150 times.43900:41:31,582 --> 00:41:37,614Microplastics are plastic partssmaller than 5 mm.44000:41:37,614 --> 00:41:41,579This definitionwas decided upon globally.44100:41:41,579 --> 00:41:47,445It is one of the indicatorsof marine pollution,44200:41:47,445 --> 00:41:50,477prescribedby the marine directive.44300:41:50,477 --> 00:41:53,510There are two sourcesof microplastics:44400:41:54,242 --> 00:41:59,408Either larger piecesof plastic fall apart44500:42:00,241 --> 00:42:06,139or plastic particlesare already tiny,44600:42:06,139 --> 00:42:09,138when they comeinto the sea.44700:42:09,138 --> 00:42:13,004Such particles areplastic pellets,44800:42:13,037 --> 00:42:17,003which are pre-productionunits of plastic.44900:42:17,036 --> 00:42:21,069They are tiny balls,2 to 3 mm big.45000:42:22,400 --> 00:42:26,266Another sourceare the clothes we wash.45100:42:26,266 --> 00:42:33,231And another are cosmeticswith polyethylene granules:45200:42:33,231 --> 00:42:38,131hand creams,peeling creams and so on.45300:42:38,962 --> 00:42:43,129Microplastics in Sloveniaare monitored since 2011.45400:42:43,860 --> 00:42:46,927The method is similarto methods around the world.45500:42:46,959 --> 00:42:52,026Helping with research are thestudents of Environmental Sciences.45600:42:52,758 --> 00:42:56,723The sampling is madewith a manta net,45700:42:56,723 --> 00:43:01,723used to collect samplesof surface sea water.45800:43:02,722 --> 00:43:06,586The holesare as tiny as 300 .45900:43:06,586 --> 00:43:10,653Everything over 0,3 mmstays in the net46000:43:10,685 --> 00:43:16,619and can be analysed asmicroplastics or macro waste.46100:43:17,817 --> 00:43:23,483Everything from the netis funnelled into its cod end.46200:43:23,515 --> 00:43:29,915The samples are thenpoured into such containers46300:43:29,946 --> 00:43:33,779and analysedin the lab.46400:43:34,278 --> 00:43:39,245The results then showthe average amount of particles46500:43:39,277 --> 00:43:43,311in a square meterof Slovenian water,46600:43:44,142 --> 00:43:47,309as well as their weight,their dimensions...46700:43:48,208 --> 00:43:52,407According to our data,the Slovenian sea surface46800:43:52,407 --> 00:43:59,173contains 11.3 kg or 16 millionparticles of microplastics.46900:43:59,270 --> 00:44:04,270To imagine 16 millionplastic parts in the sea,47000:44:04,303 --> 00:44:08,135where we swimand the fish inhabit...47100:44:08,135 --> 00:44:10,268This can't be good.47200:44:11,067 --> 00:44:15,234We don't know how muchplastic is in the seabed.47300:44:15,266 --> 00:44:19,133The datadoesn't exist yet.47400:44:19,164 --> 00:44:24,098Also, no such data existsfor rivers or lakes.47500:44:30,128 --> 00:44:35,061- Plastic can be really good.- Good? Why is that?47600:44:35,127 --> 00:44:39,127It's used in medicine.It saves lives.47700:44:39,192 --> 00:44:44,125- How?- A helmet can save your life.47800:44:44,157 --> 00:44:48,157No, thanks. I lookstupid enough as it is.47900:44:56,053 --> 00:44:59,153We use it for leisure:for fun,48000:45:00,252 --> 00:45:02,186for flying48100:45:03,085 --> 00:45:05,118or just sitting.48200:45:07,184 --> 00:45:10,184Plastic connects usto the world,48300:45:10,216 --> 00:45:14,183it helps us communicate,we pay with it,48400:45:14,215 --> 00:45:17,115we may identifywith it.48500:45:18,213 --> 00:45:21,080Wrap fodder in it.48600:45:21,113 --> 00:45:24,080Electronic devices,toys...48700:45:24,112 --> 00:45:27,112Plates,food containers...48800:45:28,077 --> 00:45:31,177We wear it,apply it to our skin...48900:45:31,243 --> 00:45:35,243When you cometo the emergency room,49000:45:36,041 --> 00:45:39,141the doctor starts openingplastic wrappings49100:45:39,207 --> 00:45:43,174and taking out syringesand instruments,49200:45:43,206 --> 00:45:48,106which are ready, safe,sterile and disposable.49300:45:48,137 --> 00:45:50,037This is all plastic.49400:45:50,104 --> 00:45:53,071Similarly,air-bags in cars.49500:45:53,103 --> 00:45:58,136It's almost impossibleto make a car air-bag49600:45:58,201 --> 00:46:02,234from natural materials.It's plastic, of course.49700:46:03,067 --> 00:46:07,133For me, plastic isa basic material,49800:46:07,166 --> 00:46:11,266which allows usthe life we live today:49900:46:12,030 --> 00:46:14,164safe and comfortable.50000:46:14,196 --> 00:46:19,096The life our ancestorsdid not know.50100:46:19,195 --> 00:46:22,262No major researchhas been done50200:46:23,027 --> 00:46:26,161into the possibledamaging effects of plastic50300:46:26,226 --> 00:46:30,225for our bodiesand for other organisms.50400:46:30,225 --> 00:46:36,059Plastic has a major,yet very hidden impact.50500:46:36,090 --> 00:46:40,157We are so used to it,we don't notice it anymore.50600:46:40,189 --> 00:46:43,256Nowadaysit's a bigger challenge50700:46:44,020 --> 00:46:48,020to find productsthat don't contain plastic50800:46:48,053 --> 00:46:52,153than products that areat least partly plastic.50900:46:54,251 --> 00:46:57,217Plastic comes fromfactories,51000:46:57,250 --> 00:47:01,116but we may soon be ableto make it at home.51100:47:01,149 --> 00:47:05,149The idea is in progress and maybecome part of our life.51200:47:05,181 --> 00:47:09,014There are three typesof printers:51300:47:09,047 --> 00:47:12,013liquid, powder and solid.51400:47:12,046 --> 00:47:16,079This printer is basedon the RepRap,51500:47:16,111 --> 00:47:20,045a self-replicatingrapid prototyper.51600:47:20,076 --> 00:47:23,208It's a projectto develop a printer,51700:47:23,208 --> 00:47:26,175which canreplicate itself.51800:47:26,208 --> 00:47:31,208The designs are availableas a free software51900:47:32,006 --> 00:47:37,040and can then be developedby anyone who is interested.52000:47:37,171 --> 00:47:43,071With a 3D modelling programwe design a 3D model,52100:47:43,136 --> 00:47:49,069send it to the controller,which cuts it into layers,52200:47:49,135 --> 00:47:52,134determines the pathwaysof the printer head,52300:47:52,134 --> 00:47:54,067and that's it.52400:47:57,065 --> 00:48:01,998For example,a part of my pen breaks off.52500:48:02,031 --> 00:48:06,064I find the penin the internet base,52600:48:06,195 --> 00:48:10,995copy the model of the lidand print it.52700:48:11,028 --> 00:48:14,061And I geta functional product.52800:48:22,125 --> 00:48:26,023These printers areavailable on the market,52900:48:26,023 --> 00:48:29,956but the printingstill takes a long time.53000:48:30,022 --> 00:48:34,088Once we have a working printerand know the material,53100:48:34,121 --> 00:48:37,121we can leave itto print overnight.53200:48:37,153 --> 00:48:40,153And when we wake up,the lid is done.53300:49:07,144 --> 00:49:13,044Not only do we save our bodies,we can laminate and exhibit them.53400:49:13,075 --> 00:49:17,009These bodies were preservedby replacing water53500:49:17,041 --> 00:49:20,174with liquid plastic oradding liquid silicone.53600:49:20,940 --> 00:49:24,973It hardens in a vacuumand enables eternal life.53700:49:30,170 --> 00:49:33,137Scientists are developingtechnologies53800:49:33,936 --> 00:49:38,103for microorganisms to decomposenon-biodegradable plastic.53900:49:38,134 --> 00:49:40,134The problem is54000:49:40,934 --> 00:49:46,067that these organisms aren'tpresent in all environments54100:49:46,132 --> 00:49:51,065and must becultivated specially,54200:49:52,097 --> 00:49:56,963while stable culturesin nature54300:49:56,996 --> 00:50:01,129do not decomposenon-degradable plastic.54400:50:01,927 --> 00:50:05,160However, there are waysto force microorganisms54500:50:05,926 --> 00:50:12,059to use food, which is notvery tasteful to them.54600:50:12,924 --> 00:50:15,024I was part ofa research programme,54700:50:15,056 --> 00:50:19,123where by removingsources of nitrogen54800:50:19,155 --> 00:50:25,122we forced fungito degrade, to eat54900:50:27,087 --> 00:50:31,120nylon, a polyamide,which contains nitrogen.55000:50:31,151 --> 00:50:36,151Not often will thishappen in nature.55100:50:37,983 --> 00:50:41,983Or maybe a very longnatural evolution is needed55200:50:42,015 --> 00:50:44,915for nature toget used to plastic55300:50:44,981 --> 00:50:48,113and start utilizingit to its advantage.55400:50:48,113 --> 00:50:51,980We could waitseveral million years.55500:50:53,112 --> 00:50:56,145Since oil is limitedand waste piles up,55600:50:56,943 --> 00:50:59,043chemical recyclingis the answer.55700:50:59,077 --> 00:51:04,910Thermal depolymerisationturns plastic into oil-like liquid.55800:51:16,138 --> 00:51:20,072- I've been thinking...- You, thinking?55900:51:21,070 --> 00:51:26,070- We talk plastic all day.- Well, you do.56000:51:29,967 --> 00:51:34,067Just one more thingpuzzles me. It's everywhere.56100:51:34,899 --> 00:51:37,032So you said.56200:51:37,131 --> 00:51:41,965Is it also inside us?Affecting our health?56300:51:43,096 --> 00:51:45,063I don't know.56400:51:51,961 --> 00:51:55,927Plastic can be harmfuldue to migration,56500:51:55,960 --> 00:51:59,993which is a processof transferring a substance56600:52:00,024 --> 00:52:02,991from a materialto food.56700:52:03,023 --> 00:52:07,990The type of plastic is notas important as its additives:56800:52:08,022 --> 00:52:12,989softeners, stabilisers,residues of catalysts...56900:52:13,020 --> 00:52:17,887These tiny molecules,additives and monomers,57000:52:17,919 --> 00:52:20,886can be tricky.57100:52:20,918 --> 00:52:24,985There are several factorsfor migration from plastic:57200:52:25,017 --> 00:52:28,917the type of plasticand the type of food.57300:52:28,950 --> 00:52:32,983Temperature is veryimportant. So is time.57400:52:33,014 --> 00:52:37,013Contact over a period of timeat high temperatures57500:52:37,013 --> 00:52:39,013will increase migration.57600:52:39,079 --> 00:52:41,979And the area-volumeratio.57700:52:42,012 --> 00:52:46,979If a large area of plastic isin contact with a small volume,57800:52:47,010 --> 00:52:51,010the migrationto the food can increase.57900:52:54,042 --> 00:52:57,075If water tastesof plastic,58000:52:57,941 --> 00:53:01,874something from plasticmigrated to water.58100:53:02,072 --> 00:53:06,872This indicatessomething is not quite right.58200:53:06,904 --> 00:53:11,904Plastic shouldn't reactwith food in such a way58300:53:11,936 --> 00:53:16,002as to alter the organolepticproperties of food.58400:53:16,035 --> 00:53:19,868So something waswrong with the plastic.58500:53:24,932 --> 00:53:28,932BPA stands forbisphenol A, a monomer58600:53:28,964 --> 00:53:34,064used in the productionof polymer polycarbonate.58700:53:34,862 --> 00:53:38,029It is also usedfor lining cans.58800:53:38,094 --> 00:53:45,894A BPA-free label meansthat bisphenol A was not used.58900:53:45,926 --> 00:53:50,059This does not meanthe bottle is safer59000:53:50,858 --> 00:53:53,925than a bottle madeof polycarbonate.59100:53:53,957 --> 00:53:57,957BPA is also used in materialsin contact with food59200:53:57,988 --> 00:54:00,988and is a hormone disruptor.59300:54:01,022 --> 00:54:05,888As a precaution,it's prohibited in baby bottles.59400:54:05,920 --> 00:54:10,020The safest way is to usean item as is intended.59500:54:10,052 --> 00:54:14,852If it's used in this way,plastic is safe.59600:54:16,917 --> 00:54:20,950If you put oil in a bottleintended for water,59700:54:20,981 --> 00:54:24,848the oil might becomeaffected.59800:54:24,880 --> 00:54:29,980The bottle was meant for waterto be stored and then used.59900:54:30,046 --> 00:54:33,946If you reuse it,it's again problematic.60000:54:33,977 --> 00:54:38,877One instance where webecome aware of plastic60100:54:38,910 --> 00:54:42,843is the insideof new cars.60200:54:42,875 --> 00:54:46,809There is alwaysa typical scent.60300:54:46,874 --> 00:54:51,841These are chemicalsfrom plastic,60400:54:51,906 --> 00:54:57,839but also from coatings,lubricants.60500:54:59,970 --> 00:55:04,904When the car is closed,particularly when it's hot,60600:55:04,935 --> 00:55:07,902the chemicals surface.60700:55:07,934 --> 00:55:11,867Some manufacturerssuggest60800:55:11,900 --> 00:55:14,900to air new cars.60900:55:17,864 --> 00:55:21,898The damaging effectsof microplastics on humans61000:55:21,930 --> 00:55:24,030have not been proven.61100:55:24,829 --> 00:55:29,029In an experiment,hamsters were injected61200:55:29,828 --> 00:55:31,961with microplastics.61300:55:31,994 --> 00:55:35,927A growth started developingaround the particles,61400:55:35,959 --> 00:55:38,959which led to thrombosis.61500:55:38,992 --> 00:55:42,825Plastic actslike a sponge.61600:55:42,857 --> 00:55:48,024It absorbs heavy pollutants,poisonous chemical substances.61700:55:48,822 --> 00:55:52,989Concentrations of substancesin a plastic particle can be61800:55:53,020 --> 00:55:57,787up to a 1000-times higherthan in the environment:61900:55:57,819 --> 00:56:01,919substances like pesticides,DDT, PCB,62000:56:01,951 --> 00:56:08,985which may thenbe released inside the body.62100:56:09,815 --> 00:56:14,782Yet we don't know whetherthe microplastic is secreted62200:56:14,814 --> 00:56:17,881or integratedinto the fish organism.62300:56:17,913 --> 00:56:21,846An animal mistakesplastic for its food.62400:56:21,879 --> 00:56:26,845A bird may think the plasticon the surface is a bone62500:56:26,910 --> 00:56:30,810that it can eat or peck at.62600:56:30,842 --> 00:56:35,909A turtle can't tella plastic bag from a jelly fish.62700:56:36,007 --> 00:56:40,940An even bigger problemarises with filter feeders.62800:56:40,973 --> 00:56:46,906They feed unselectively,by filtering massive amounts.62900:56:46,937 --> 00:56:51,004Because sea watercontains microplastics,63000:56:51,770 --> 00:56:55,770these animals ingest it.63100:57:00,833 --> 00:57:03,967I meet a girl,everything is fine,63200:57:03,999 --> 00:57:06,966we talk, we click.63300:57:07,865 --> 00:57:11,865Then she wants to knowwhat I do.63400:57:11,963 --> 00:57:16,829I tell her I am a binman,and she's gone.63500:57:17,862 --> 00:57:21,928- What else should I say?- That you are a secret agent.63600:57:22,826 --> 00:57:26,893- Don't say anything.- Or that I'm an environmentalist.63700:57:26,925 --> 00:57:30,759- Good one, I'll use it.- We are similar.63800:57:30,791 --> 00:57:33,924We fight for the same thingor rather, against it.63900:57:33,957 --> 00:57:37,823There, you knowhow to embellish. No problem.64000:57:47,819 --> 00:57:52,919With awareness on the rise,people join clean-up actions.64100:57:52,951 --> 00:57:57,817But for true changes,we need to become the change.64200:57:57,850 --> 00:58:02,850Slovenians have a relativelystrong tradition.64300:58:02,881 --> 00:58:08,881Locally, people have beencleaning up for 20 years.64400:58:09,746 --> 00:58:12,879Some placesare better organised64500:58:12,911 --> 00:58:15,910and more successfulthan others.64600:58:15,910 --> 00:58:20,910Before 2010, theyfaltered a tad after a while.64700:58:20,942 --> 00:58:25,842There were alwaysthe same people cleaning.64800:58:25,941 --> 00:58:31,741Also, before that year no onedealt with illegal dump sites.64900:58:31,805 --> 00:58:34,839Most peopleweren't aware of them.65000:58:34,871 --> 00:58:38,704We try hardto clean up nature.65100:58:38,770 --> 00:58:42,903If we leave naturethe way it is,65200:58:43,901 --> 00:58:47,901it will all be horrible.We won't do our job.65300:58:48,800 --> 00:58:53,767I suggest to peoplewho litter to stop!65400:58:53,865 --> 00:58:56,832It's not good for nature.65500:58:56,865 --> 00:59:00,732Everyone wants to educatechildren. Yes, good.65600:59:00,763 --> 00:59:04,930But children recycle.They've already been taught65700:59:05,729 --> 00:59:10,895in kindergartens and schools,through eco programs.65800:59:10,927 --> 00:59:15,727The middle-aged are the problem,up to 50 year olds.65900:59:15,759 --> 00:59:19,759They think they know everything,can find information...66000:59:19,791 --> 00:59:22,791But they don't live like that.66100:59:22,824 --> 00:59:26,790The elderlyare used to reusing.66200:59:26,822 --> 00:59:31,788They didn't have much.My granny, for example.66300:59:31,821 --> 00:59:36,754She was reusing bags,because they were in short supply.66400:59:36,785 --> 00:59:41,685People need an incentive.Is it worth it?66500:59:43,817 --> 00:59:47,817This is probably the reasonpeople still don't recycle.66600:59:47,849 --> 00:59:51,749They see no point.You put in time and energy,66700:59:51,781 --> 00:59:55,781yet pay the same assomeone who doesn't recycle.66800:59:55,814 --> 00:59:59,914Everyone says:Rubbish is business.66901:00:00,745 --> 01:00:04,745A pile of rubbishis worth nothing.67001:00:04,777 --> 01:00:07,843When it's sorted,the material pays.67101:00:07,843 --> 01:00:10,910But you need to payfor transport and sorting,67201:00:11,675 --> 01:00:13,909take care of residual waste.67301:00:14,708 --> 01:00:18,674No one wants to dealwith what's left, the RDF.67401:00:18,707 --> 01:00:21,707They'd just sellwhat can be sold.67501:00:21,739 --> 01:00:24,839You can't just dumpeverything in landfills.67601:00:24,905 --> 01:00:30,838Bills for recycling are higherfor several reasons.67701:00:30,869 --> 01:00:35,703Before, a truck would pick upall the waste at once:67801:00:35,734 --> 01:00:39,867from biowaste to packagingand unsorted waste.67901:00:39,900 --> 01:00:43,733Now you need to collectthree times68001:00:43,765 --> 01:00:47,865or have a truckwith various sections.68101:00:47,898 --> 01:00:54,664Also, unsorted wastenow needs to be processed.68201:00:54,729 --> 01:00:56,829Taxes have gone up...68301:00:56,861 --> 01:01:02,728Rubbish bills will nevergo down.68401:01:02,759 --> 01:01:06,793They'll keep going up,as the demands are higher.68501:01:11,691 --> 01:01:13,824You knowwhat I would like to know?68601:01:15,722 --> 01:01:18,722Do you thinkplastic is fantastic?68701:01:19,721 --> 01:01:23,754Is it fantastic?Fantastic plastic...68801:01:24,687 --> 01:01:28,753- Plastic fantastic.- Plastic fantastic, yes.68901:01:33,884 --> 01:01:37,817For me,plastic is semi-fantastic.69001:01:38,882 --> 01:01:40,882Plastic is great.69101:01:41,647 --> 01:01:45,781It's a materialthat came about by chance,69201:01:45,813 --> 01:01:49,713to improve the qualityof billiard balls.69301:01:49,879 --> 01:01:54,812And today it's usedfor all kinds of things.69401:01:55,777 --> 01:01:58,843It is.As packaging it's great.69501:01:58,876 --> 01:02:02,809It's light,good for processing.69601:02:02,841 --> 01:02:08,741But we need to insure recycling,to optimally reuse it.69701:02:08,873 --> 01:02:12,639To me it's neutral.69801:02:13,805 --> 01:02:17,672If we are talkingabout fantastic...69901:02:17,703 --> 01:02:20,736I find nanomaterialsfantastic.70001:02:23,669 --> 01:02:26,835Yes, becausethere are no other materials70101:02:27,867 --> 01:02:34,633that can be usedin so many different forms.70201:02:36,765 --> 01:02:39,765Unfortunately,it has properties70301:02:39,797 --> 01:02:44,697that aren't good forthe environment and humans.70401:02:54,725 --> 01:02:58,692It has its worth.But fantastic...70501:02:59,824 --> 01:03:04,724Personally, I prefernatural materials, like wood.70601:03:04,822 --> 01:03:08,789It is not an issuein itself,70701:03:08,821 --> 01:03:12,655if it's properlytaken care of.70801:03:15,719 --> 01:03:19,619Although it isan unpleasant friend,70901:03:19,652 --> 01:03:22,785we can't give it up.We don't like plastic,71001:03:22,817 --> 01:03:27,751we even hate or deny it,would hide it away.71101:03:27,782 --> 01:03:32,682But on the other handwe all use it all the time.71201:03:32,714 --> 01:03:36,681I think plastic is fantastic,and it has proven so.71301:03:36,712 --> 01:03:40,746Now we must provethat we are fantastic,71401:03:40,778 --> 01:03:45,645that we can controlthis unpleasant friend71501:03:45,677 --> 01:03:49,710and are capable ofcohabiting with it,71601:03:49,743 --> 01:03:52,809without damageto ourselves or the environment.71701:03:53,607 --> 01:03:55,674Plastic fantastic, yes.71801:04:09,802 --> 01:04:13,669Do you really think...I mean...71901:04:14,668 --> 01:04:18,635Go ahead, ask.You have questions, too?72001:04:18,734 --> 01:04:23,800It's just... Do you reallythink rubbish is the problem?72101:04:24,598 --> 01:04:27,565No. People are the problem!72201:04:27,597 --> 01:04:31,764A bag doesn't walk to the woods.Someone brings it there.