3 ms·

> plastic efficiently recycled Plastic can be recycled, but only into lower grade plastic. Eventually it gets burnt or buried.

JulianMorrison 7y ago
Which means in practise it's not recyclable at all. I don't count something as such if the cycle isn't fully closed. Aluminium is, glass is, plastic is not.
- mytailorisrich 7y ago
  Explicit recycling is not necessarily the best option depending on the resources (e.g. energy) needed. Burning plastics is an option especially if plant-based (to be carbon neutral) but it then raises the issue of land use. Biodegradability/compostability is another option with new types of plastics and/or GMO bacteria. The point is to look at the full picture instead of claiming that all plastics should be get rid of without considering if the alternatives are any better.
  - ulisesrmzroche 7y ago
    The full picture looks pretty grim. I think y’all miss out on the bigger picture cus y’all hit these ideological blinders, very peculiar to HN. For example, the article is very explicit about why recycling is not working - it has to do with economics - and y’all talking nonsense about GMO bacteria and energy use.
- isostatic 7y ago
  Paper can't be recycled forever either. Of course paper is biodegradable so it's not a major problem
maxerickson 7y ago
Except when it's recycled into the same grade of plastic: https://www.waste360.com/plastics/look-new-plant-will-produce-recycled-food-grade-pet https://www.waste360.com/plastics/look-new-plant-will-produc...
- o_nate 7y ago
  That is a rather rare case. It's overwhelmingly the case that plastic gets recycled (if at all) into a lower grade and then can't be recycled again. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/24/almost-no-plastic-bottles-get-recycled-into-new-bottles.html https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/24/almost-no-plastic-bottles-ge...

3 ms·

> plastic efficiently recycled Plastic can be recycled, but only into lower grade plastic. Eventually it gets burnt or buried.

by isostatic 7y ago

JulianMorrison 7y ago
Which means in practise it's not recyclable at all. I don't count something as such if the cycle isn't fully closed. Aluminium is, glass is, plastic is not.
- mytailorisrich 7y ago
  Explicit recycling is not necessarily the best option depending on the resources (e.g. energy) needed. Burning plastics is an option especially if plant-based (to be carbon neutral) but it then raises the issue of land use. Biodegradability/compostability is another option with new types of plastics and/or GMO bacteria. The point is to look at the full picture instead of claiming that all plastics should be get rid of without considering if the alternatives are any better.
  - ulisesrmzroche 7y ago
    The full picture looks pretty grim. I think y’all miss out on the bigger picture cus y’all hit these ideological blinders, very peculiar to HN. For example, the article is very explicit about why recycling is not working - it has to do with economics - and y’all talking nonsense about GMO bacteria and energy use.
- isostatic 7y ago
  Paper can't be recycled forever either. Of course paper is biodegradable so it's not a major problem
maxerickson 7y ago
Except when it's recycled into the same grade of plastic: https://www.waste360.com/plastics/look-new-plant-will-produce-recycled-food-grade-pet https://www.waste360.com/plastics/look-new-plant-will-produc...
- o_nate 7y ago
  That is a rather rare case. It's overwhelmingly the case that plastic gets recycled (if at all) into a lower grade and then can't be recycled again. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/24/almost-no-plastic-bottles-get-recycled-into-new-bottles.html https://www.cnbc.com/2017/04/24/almost-no-plastic-bottles-ge...