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Considering the current state of recycling, it may be better to just throw our plastics away instead of putting them in recycling bins. With China turning away
by nhebb 8y ago
Considering the current state of recycling, it may be better to just throw our plastics away instead of putting them in recycling bins. With China turning away our recycling, some cities have started burning them (according to recent headlines - I don't have a source). I would think that would be worse for our environment that putting them in landfills.
According to the study by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research [1], 90% of ocean waste comes from 10 rivers - 8 in Asia and 2 in Africa. I'm not sure if what we do in the U.S. and Europe will have much impact on the oceans.
[1] https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/06/90-of-plastic-polluting-our-oceans-comes-from-just-10-rivers/ https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/06/90-of-plastic-polluti...
- gdfasfklshg4 8y agoI think that how bad burning is depends upon the temperature. The level of control of the temperature and the sortedness of the plastic. Also whether the generated heat is actually used.
- the6threplicant 8y ago> I'm not sure if what we do in the U.S. and Europe will have much impact It's not like all of that plastic is just domestic consumption. Right? We just exported our negative externalities. We don't really have a moral high-ground here. Even if you are a Jedi master.
- koheripbal 8y agoThe old strategy of burying garbage is looking better and better. We're literally sequestering CO2 by doing so.
- Dirlewanger 8y agoAnd the problem with this is that things like batteries and other similar chemicals eventually seep into groundwater...