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> Putting stuff in a landfill is way better for global warming since its not burned, the carbon is buried. Landfills release gas. Of course it is better than b

> Putting stuff in a landfill is way better for global warming since its not burned, the carbon is buried. Landfills release gas. Of course it is better than burning plastic but there is no environmentalist on earth demanding for plastic to be burned. > Almost all plastic waste in developed countries ends up in landfills, not the natural environment. This is horrifyingly incorrect! Developed countries process only some of their trash themselves. The rest is shipped into poorer countries. It will end up in the natural environment. The UK ships off two thirds to other countries.

gruez 2y ago
>This is horrifyingly incorrect! Developed countries process only some of their trash themselves. The rest is shipped into poorer countries. It will end up in the natural environment. No, you're incorrect. https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-waste-trade https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-waste-trade >Many people think that rich countries ship most of their plastic waste overseas. But is this really true? >The short answer is no: many countries export some of their waste, but they still handle most of it domestically. >[...] When it comes to the fraction of plastic waste that is exported, the UK is one of the largest exporters. For context, the US exported about 5% of its plastic waste in 2010. France exported 11%, and the Netherlands exported 14%.[...] >[...] I estimate that a few percent of ocean plastics could result from trade from rich countries. A figure as high as 5% would not be unreasonable.
- mikojan 2y ago
  > No, you're incorrect. Exactly what statement is incorrect? Adding to that: Statistics show that developed countries are shipping significant amounts of trash into poorer countries. But there is most likely an even higher number of unrecorded cases. Supply chains can be difficult to monitor even within the OECD, and an estimated third of shipments is illegal.[0] [0]: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/video-how-eu-tackling-illegal-waste-shipments-2024-06-05_en https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/video-how-eu-tackling-...
  - gruez 2y ago
    >Exactly what statement is incorrect? Your original comment: >> Almost all plastic waste in developed countries ends up in landfills, not the natural environment. >This is horrifyingly incorrect! Developed countries process only some of their trash themselves. I guess you can weasel out of this by claiming that >85% counts as "some", but it's misleading at the very least. Moreover, your statement was trying to refute "Almost all plastic waste in developed countries ends up in landfills, not the natural environment", which so far as I can tell is true, even if some small fraction gets exported to developing countries and end up mismanaged.
    - mikojan 2y ago
      In reality, a significant portion is exported to developing countries, where it often ends up mismanaged. Claiming developed countries handle "almost all" of their plastic waste without acknowledging this export is detracting from wrongdoings me and you bear responsibility for as citizens of relatively free and open democratic societies. It is not somehow misleading. It is morally reprehensible.
      - gruez 2y ago
        >In reality, a significant portion is exported to developing countries, where it often ends up mismanaged. Source? This directly contradicts what the data in the above article, and that actually has sources backing it up.
      - CRConrad 2y ago
        > It is not somehow misleading. True. The simpler and more exact statement is just: It is misleading. No need for a weaselly "somehow". Here's guessing that's not what you meant, but... Too bad for you, then. Best way not to come off as a hot-headed zealot who's either ignorant of or intentionally twisting the truth is not to behave like a hot-headed zealot who's either ignorant of or intentionally twisting the truth.
    - Hnrobert42 2y ago
      I saw this article in another comment somewhere above. It makes an interesting point that recycled PET demand now outstrips supply and that is partly because curbside recycling is usually too contaminated to be useful. Instead, DRS systems which refund you like nickel per bottle generate much better streams, but they aren't widely implemented. All that said. I'm not sure which if you is correct. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jiec.13496 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jiec.13496
cyberax 2y ago
> Landfills release gas. Of course it is better than burning plastic but there is no environmentalist on earth demanding for plastic to be burned. Methane comes from organic waste mostly, most plastics do not degrade in a landfill environment.

gruez 2y ago

>This is horrifyingly incorrect! Developed countries process only some of their trash themselves. The rest is shipped into poorer countries. It will end up in the natural environment. No, you're incorrect. https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-waste-trade https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-waste-trade >Many people think that rich countries ship most of their plastic waste overseas. But is this really true? >The short answer is no: many countries export some of their waste, but they still handle most of it domestically. >[...] When it comes to the fraction of plastic waste that is exported, the UK is one of the largest exporters. For context, the US exported about 5% of its plastic waste in 2010. France exported 11%, and the Netherlands exported 14%.[...] >[...] I estimate that a few percent of ocean plastics could result from trade from rich countries. A figure as high as 5% would not be unreasonable.

mikojan 2y ago
> No, you're incorrect. Exactly what statement is incorrect? Adding to that: Statistics show that developed countries are shipping significant amounts of trash into poorer countries. But there is most likely an even higher number of unrecorded cases. Supply chains can be difficult to monitor even within the OECD, and an estimated third of shipments is illegal.[0] [0]: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/video-how-eu-tackling-illegal-waste-shipments-2024-06-05_en https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/video-how-eu-tackling-...
- gruez 2y ago
  >Exactly what statement is incorrect? Your original comment: >> Almost all plastic waste in developed countries ends up in landfills, not the natural environment. >This is horrifyingly incorrect! Developed countries process only some of their trash themselves. I guess you can weasel out of this by claiming that >85% counts as "some", but it's misleading at the very least. Moreover, your statement was trying to refute "Almost all plastic waste in developed countries ends up in landfills, not the natural environment", which so far as I can tell is true, even if some small fraction gets exported to developing countries and end up mismanaged.
  - mikojan 2y ago
    In reality, a significant portion is exported to developing countries, where it often ends up mismanaged. Claiming developed countries handle "almost all" of their plastic waste without acknowledging this export is detracting from wrongdoings me and you bear responsibility for as citizens of relatively free and open democratic societies. It is not somehow misleading. It is morally reprehensible.
    - gruez 2y ago
      >In reality, a significant portion is exported to developing countries, where it often ends up mismanaged. Source? This directly contradicts what the data in the above article, and that actually has sources backing it up.
    - CRConrad 2y ago
      > It is not somehow misleading. True. The simpler and more exact statement is just: It is misleading. No need for a weaselly "somehow". Here's guessing that's not what you meant, but... Too bad for you, then. Best way not to come off as a hot-headed zealot who's either ignorant of or intentionally twisting the truth is not to behave like a hot-headed zealot who's either ignorant of or intentionally twisting the truth.
  - Hnrobert42 2y ago
    I saw this article in another comment somewhere above. It makes an interesting point that recycled PET demand now outstrips supply and that is partly because curbside recycling is usually too contaminated to be useful. Instead, DRS systems which refund you like nickel per bottle generate much better streams, but they aren't widely implemented. All that said. I'm not sure which if you is correct. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jiec.13496 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jiec.13496

cyberax 2y ago

> Landfills release gas. Of course it is better than burning plastic but there is no environmentalist on earth demanding for plastic to be burned. Methane comes from organic waste mostly, most plastics do not degrade in a landfill environment.