“From Garbage to Stuff” examines plastics recycling
Anyone who has ever wondered what happens to plastics they toss in the recycling bin will find answers in an upcoming guest presentation at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
William Carroll, an organic chemist and past president of the American Chemical Society, will present “From Garbage to Stuff: How we Recycle Plastics,” on Wednesday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. in Room D102 of the Science Building, 2001 Fourth Ave. Carroll’s talk is free and open to the public. The presentation is sponsored by the Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology at UW-Stevens Point and the Central Wisconsin Section of the American Chemical Society and caps an Earth Day celebration on campus, including the annual Eco Fair.
Carroll will discuss the four critical steps in recycling, collection, separation, reprocessing and remanufacture, and how they relate to plastics. His presentation includes a primer in the basic kinds of plastics, how they differ and how they're used in common articles, especially packaging.
Carroll holds a doctorate in organic chemistry from Indiana University Bloomington. He is currently vice president, industry issues for Occidental Chemical Corporation and also adjunct professor of chemistry at Indiana University. He holds two patents and has more than 65 publications in the fields of organic electrochemistry, polymer chemistry, combustion chemistry, incineration and plastics recycling. Carroll has received the Henry Hill Award, sponsored by the ACS Division of Professional Relations, the Michael Shea Award from the Division of Chemical Technicians, Distinguished Alumni Awards from both Indiana and DePauw and the Vinyl Institute’s Roy T. Gottesman Leadership Award.
April 22 is designated as Earth Day each year and is celebrated around the world. Because that date falls on a Sunday this year, UW-Stevens Point will mark Earth Day on Wednesday, April 18, to increase participation opportunities for students, faculty and staff. The Eco Fair, which includes interactive displays and a series of short presentations on “Rethinking Recycling,” will be held at the Sundial from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
More information is online at www.uwsp.edu/wist.
Contact: Ron Tschida, WIST communications manager, 715-346-4266 or rtschida@uwsp.edu.
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