Learn how trash, such as hard plastic, can be used to make steel, in this video from NOVA: Treasures of the Earth: Metals. Materials scientist Veena Sahajwalla describes how landfills can be viewed as a resource instead of a burden to society. Carbon-containing materials found in landfills can be utilized to make steel, which is an alloy of iron and carbon. After a decade of research, this "green steel" technology is now being used to recycle millions of tires and is helping to reduce the carbon footprint of steel manufacturing. This resource is part of the NOVA Collection.
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