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Natural gas
A fossil fuel formed underground over millions of years from the remains of tiny dead sea plants and animals that were buried on the ocean floor. Natural gas burns cleaner and has fewer emissions than coal or oil.
Natural resource
A material which is found naturally in the environment and is used for food or energy or to produce other materials. eg coal, timber.
Non-renewable energy
Energy which comes from a source which can only be used once and cannot be replaced once it is used up, eg energy from burning fossil fuels.
Non-renewable resource
A natural resource which can only be used once and cannot be replaced once it is used up, eg coal, oil and natural gas.
Nutrients
Substances which are used by plants or animals as food.
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Oil
A fossil fuel formed underground over millions of years from the remains
of tiny dead sea plants and animals that were buried on the ocean floor.
Organic
Anything that is, or comes from, a living organism.
Organic waste
Any waste which comes from plant or animal matter.
Ozone
A colorless toxic gas. Ozone is important in the upper levels of the
atmosphere, to protect us from the radiation of the sun. But when
it
is produced close to the ground in photochemical smog it is a dangerous
pollutant.
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Packaging
Any material which contains food or other products, and is used to transport,
protect, and provide information about those contents.
Pesticides
Chemicals used when growing plants and crops, to kill unwanted insects,
weeds and other pests.
PET
A type of plastic - polyethylene terephthalate – used to make containers
like soft drink and water bottles.
Petroleum
Crude oil and any products derived from crude oil that are liquids at
normal temperature and pressure, eg motor fuel, jet oil, and lubricants.
Plastics
Compounds made from chains of polymers, which can be moulded into rigid
or pliable materials, for packaging, construction, fabrics, etc.
Polymer
Long chained molecules made up of many smaller units, repeated many
times. These units are often a combination of carbon and hydrogen, along
with other elements added to change the properties of the polymer.
Population
A group of interbreeding organisms (members of the same species) that
live in a particular area.
Pot-holing
Burying food waste in holes in the ground, where it breaks down, returning
nutrients to the soil.
PP
A type of plastic - polypropylene - used to make products like margarine
containers and reusable and microwaveable containers.
Precious metals
Name given to gold, silver and platinum.
PS
A type of plastic - polystyrene - used to make products like yogurt tubs and
CD cases.
Pulp
A mushy mass of fibers from rags, wood or recycled paper, which is used
to make paper and cardboard.
PVC
A type of plastic - polyvinyl chloride - used to make products like
pipes and pipe fittings, and some bottles.
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