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But the point is that properly burying plastics is better than burning it; that way, fossil fuels are returned into the ground.
by tomp 5y ago
But the point is that properly burying plastics is better than burning it; that way, fossil fuels are returned into the ground.
- ZeroGravitas 5y agoThis is only true if no fossil fuels are being burnt. It is getting truer, as the grid becomes greener, which both a) means less fossil fuels are being burnt and b) any energy used for recycling is less carbon intensive, but anyone telling you it was best to bury plastic for the last couple of decades likely was politically connected to the people who sell the raw input for making current plastics, fossil fuels.
- tomp 5y agoIt’s also true if burning gas is “cleaner” than burning plastics.
- ZeroGravitas 5y agoIt's not just the burning you need to worry about, there's greenhouse gas concerns around both fossil fuel extraction and landfills. Energy recovery comes one stop above above disposal or incineration without energy recovery in the waste hierarchy.