← Back to catalogue
Published

plastic

vr.tr.plastic · thing-q11474

Let an agent handle plastics by type, identification, uses, recycling, food contact safety and environmental impacts, with sourced information.

Thing Registry Physical world and living systems PHY.MAT
Bundle → Layer → Finding → QuestionsClassifiersWhat it isWhy it existsDistinguishing featuresWhat robots and AI may and may not doMoral aspectsOwnersLinks to other meta-modelsIdentity and identifiersDirect propertiesRecognitionCapabilities and actionsHazards and failure modesStandards and interfacesContext of useSources

Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled

4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions

Identify Which plastic.

Code

Resin codes.

Code

Resin codes.

  1. Which polymer does this resin code indicate? definition
  2. Is the code a guarantee of recyclability? boundary

Properties

Material properties.

Properties

Properties.

  1. What temperature and chemical resistance does this plastic have? provenance
  2. Which data sheet gives it? provenance
Use Safe use.

Food

Food contact.

Food

Food contact.

  1. Is this plastic labelled for food contact and microwave use? provenance
  2. Should scratched containers be replaced? boundary

Fire

Burning plastics.

Fire

Burning plastics.

  1. Is plastic being burned or melting in a fire now? boundary
  2. Should people move away from fumes and call emergency services? action
End of life Recycling and waste.

Recycle

Local rules.

Recycle

Recycling.

  1. Which plastics does the local council or scheme accept? provenance
  2. How should items be cleaned and sorted? action

Reduce

Reducing use.

Reduce

Reducing use.

  1. Which reusable alternatives reduce plastic waste? provenance
  2. What do life cycle studies say about trade-offs? provenance
Environment Impacts and policy.

Microplastics

Pollution.

Microplastics

Microplastics.

  1. What do scientific assessments say about microplastics and health? provenance
  2. How strong is the evidence? boundary

Policy

Regulation.

Policy

Policy.

  1. Which plastic rules apply here, and what is the status of international negotiations? provenance
  2. As of which date? provenance

Classifiers Filled

Family
Thing Registry
Category
Physical world and living systems
Entry kind
thing
Plane
PHY
Domain
PHY.MAT
Other names and narrower kinds
melamine foam, resin cements, synthetic resin, polyampholytic resins, alkyd resin, phenol formaldehyde resin, polyurethane, novolac, Resole, p-tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin, three-dimensional quartz phenolic, Polycarbonate-urethanes

What it is Filled

A material made mainly of synthetic or semi-synthetic polymers that can be moulded or shaped, including thermoplastics such as polyethylene and PET and thermosets such as phenol formaldehyde and alkyd resins, widely used in packaging, construction, vehicles, electronics and medicine.

Why it exists Filled

Let an agent handle plastics by type, identification, uses, recycling, food contact safety and environmental impacts, with sourced information.

Distinguishing features Filled

  • Polymer-based
  • Mouldable
  • Durable and lightweight
  • Persistent in the environment

What robots and AI may and may not do Filled

Must not

  • Burn plastics in the open or dispose of them into water or soil.
  • Claim a product is recyclable, compostable or biodegradable without evidence.
  • Use plastics in contact with food or children's products where they are not approved for that use.
  • Export plastic waste in breach of the rules on transboundary waste shipments.

Only with a human decision

  • Choosing to send plastic waste to landfill, incineration or export.

May

  • Identify plastic types from resin codes and labels and explain how to sort them for recycling.
  • Report the material, additives and recycled content stated for a product.

Moral aspects Filled

  • Plastic pollution harms marine life and reaches people through food and water.
  • Plastic waste is often shipped to poorer countries that bear its burden.

Who is affected

  • Wildlife and ecosystems
  • Communities near waste sites
  • Consumers

Owners Filled

Steward

The producer under extended producer responsibility; whoever holds plastic waste answers for its disposal.

Links to other meta-models Filled

parent

  • Q1783121 - registry parent class
  • Q214609 - registry parent class

related

  • material - category
  • polymer - composition
  • resin identification code - label
  • microplastic - pollution

What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled

Identity and identifiers required Filled

  • Vercy registry: vr.tr.plastic
  • Wikidata: Q11474 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11474)

Direct properties required Filled

  • Density: kg/m3 - Density is measured from mass and volume with polymer composition, fillers and porosity recorded.
  • Tensile strength: MPa - Tensile strength is measured by pulling a prepared specimen under specified temperature and loading conditions.
  • Elastic modulus: MPa - Elastic modulus is determined from the stress and strain response under a specified test method.
  • Thermal conductivity: W/(m K) - Thermal conductivity is measured from heat flow through a specimen under a controlled temperature difference.

Recognition required Filled

  • Resin identification codes 1 to 7
  • Films, bottles and moulded parts
  • Natural rubber and glass are not plastics
  • Light, mouldable solids, films, fibres and foams in many colours.

Capabilities and actions required Filled

  • identify plastic types and resin codes
  • find local recycling rules
  • check food contact suitability
  • understand microplastics and policy

Hazards and failure modes required Filled

  • Toxic fumes when burned
  • Microplastic pollution
  • Wish-cycling contaminating recycling

Standards and interfaces required Filled

  • EU Single-Use Plastics Directive
  • Food contact plastics regulation
  • ASTM D7611 resin identification codes

Context of use required Filled

  • Packaging, products and engineering materials.
  • commodity thermoplastics
  • engineering plastics
  • thermosets and resins
  • foams
  • bio-based and biodegradable plastics

Sources Filled

  1. Wikidata item Q11474: plastic - identity and sense of the item
  2. Wikipedia: Plastic - general description of the item

Open questions

  • Should each polymer be a separate entry?
  • How should recycling rules be localised?
  • How should policy developments be tracked?

Machine files

Card as JSON Specification Card backlog vercy.card/1

Provenance

thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed

Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q11474/spec.json