3 ms·

A very small fraction of plastics are recyclable. I highly doubt whatever this tire is, it's not recyclable.

gumby 5y ago
They answered that part: using recycled plastic and making the tyre recyclable and organic(!) are “in the future” Reducing the amount of particulate pollution, however, is apparently not part of the remit.
endswapper 5y ago
This is not true. Essentially, all plastics are recyclable, and it merely depends on the technology available.
- amanaplanacanal 5y ago
  I guess that depends on how you define recyclable. I mean really, everything recycles given a long enough time frame.
  - endswapper 5y ago
    I mean recyclable in a conventional sense the way most people understand it. Energy cost is probably the single biggest obstacle for the technology I mentioned above. Renewable energy is changing this. Most plastics will soon be a part of an efficient closed loop system. Regulations are driving some of this. However, the real driver is that these systems are incredibly profitable, and serve risk and resource management priorities as well. I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon and others started accepting plastics and paper returns. Their consumption is massive and they already have a logistics closed loop in place. Plastics are an incredible innovation and a valuable resource. Misinformation about their recyclability is a threat to their stewardship.
    - amanaplanacanal 5y ago
      The technology may exist to recycle plastics, but at least where I live, there is No infrastructure for it to happen. So no, it isn’t recyclable in reality. Can you point me to something that describes these closed loop systems? What you are saying sounds like a paid advertisement.
      - endswapper 5y ago
        The section on investments in technology and chemical recycling is probably most relevant to our discussion: https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/nl/pdf/2021/sectoren/green-deal-plastic-recycling.pdf https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/nl/pdf/2021/sectoren/gr... Anecdotally, those that are leading these investments and innovations are aggressive about it.

They answered that part: using recycled plastic and making the tyre recyclable and organic(!) are “in the future” Reducing the amount of particulate pollution, however, is apparently not part of the remit.

endswapper 5y ago

This is not true. Essentially, all plastics are recyclable, and it merely depends on the technology available.

amanaplanacanal 5y ago
I guess that depends on how you define recyclable. I mean really, everything recycles given a long enough time frame.
- endswapper 5y ago
  I mean recyclable in a conventional sense the way most people understand it. Energy cost is probably the single biggest obstacle for the technology I mentioned above. Renewable energy is changing this. Most plastics will soon be a part of an efficient closed loop system. Regulations are driving some of this. However, the real driver is that these systems are incredibly profitable, and serve risk and resource management priorities as well. I wouldn't be surprised if Amazon and others started accepting plastics and paper returns. Their consumption is massive and they already have a logistics closed loop in place. Plastics are an incredible innovation and a valuable resource. Misinformation about their recyclability is a threat to their stewardship.
  - amanaplanacanal 5y ago
    The technology may exist to recycle plastics, but at least where I live, there is No infrastructure for it to happen. So no, it isn’t recyclable in reality. Can you point me to something that describes these closed loop systems? What you are saying sounds like a paid advertisement.
    - endswapper 5y ago
      The section on investments in technology and chemical recycling is probably most relevant to our discussion: https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/nl/pdf/2021/sectoren/green-deal-plastic-recycling.pdf https://assets.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/nl/pdf/2021/sectoren/gr... Anecdotally, those that are leading these investments and innovations are aggressive about it.