3 ms·
Not if they are built and operated correctly.
by frafra 5y ago
Not if they are built and operated correctly.
- coffeecat 5y agoWhere do all the nasty fluorocarbons end up? As far as I can tell, the answer is that they're simply emitted out the smokestack and into the environment.
- ars 5y agoFluorocarbons are extremely rare in household trash.
- coffeecat 4y agoPlease define "extremely rare". They're found in many products including dental floss, clothing, furniture, carpets, pizza boxes, fishing line, and only-God-knows-what-else. It's certainly small as a mass fraction of household waste, let's say 0.01%. According to the article, European waste-to-energy plants burn 96 million tons of trash annually. So that's 9600 tons annually of fluorocarbon pollution, which will build up cumulatively in the environment because it effectively never breaks down.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- frafra 4y agoThat is a big family of chemical compounds, so it is not easy to give an easy answer. I think that you are referring to a specific subset, fluoropolymers, also called "forever chemicals", like PTFE/Teflon/Goretex. They do not release in the air the most studied PFAS (like PFOA) under controlled condition, but more studies are needed to see if the same happens in commercially run incinerators. What is the alternative? Landfill. PFAS are more concentrated in landfills, which accept non-incinerated ashes/waste. What seems to be a valid general guideline for incineration? The higher the temperature, the better. I found a nice report if you are interested: "Disposal of products and materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A cyclical problem"