Grade level: 4-5th grades
Skills: Subtract decimal numbers
Related environmental issues: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle
Area level: State
In California, recycling a ton of aluminum costs $647.63. To recycle a ton of glass, it costs $98.64. And it costs $491.5 to recycle a ton of plastic bottles.
- Which material is most expensive to recycle?
2. How much more does recycling a ton of aluminum cost than a ton of plastic bottles?
3. How much less does recycling a ton of glass cost than a ton of plastic bottles?
Data source: California’s Beverage Container Recycling & Litter Reduction Program, 2015
Answer keys
- aluminum
- $156.13 (647.63-491.50=156.13)
- $392.86 (491.50-98.64=392.86)