Why it's probably better to toss plastic in the trash

By Free Republic | Created at 2024-12-21 21:47:24 | Updated at 2024-12-23 08:28:22 1 day ago

Why it's probably better to toss plastic in the trash
wnd.com ^ | 12/21/2024 | Russ Pomeroy

Posted on 12/21/2024 1:38:12 PM PST by rktman

Millions of Americans dutifully fill their recycling bins each week, motivated by the knowledge that they're doing something good for the environment. But the sad fact is that much of what is tossed in the recycling bin is eventually heaped into landfills.

John Stossel brought attention to the issue in a video segment shared on X Thursday morning, to which Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk replied, "Recycling is pointless."

While this bombshell might be jarring – especially if you're someone who dutifully cleans their recyclables before caringly placing them in bins – Thomas Kinnaman, an environmental economist from Bucknell University, says it's actually not as bad as you think.

As Kinnaman discovered in a 2014 study – a complete life cycle analysis of the recycling process – it doesn't make much economic or environmental sense to recycle plastic and glass in much of the developed world. Despite claims that plastics are recyclable, really only PET and HDPE (types 1 and 2 in North America) can be readily reused. In total, only 9% of plastic is melted and reformed. The rest goes into landfills or the wider environment.

(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...

TOPICS: Business/Economy; Miscellaneous; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: ecowankers

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Single stream at our house. In one bin and off she goes. All of it. Trash and garbage.

1 posted on 12/21/2024 1:38:12 PM PST by rktman

To: rktman

Recycling is 99% performative nonsense.

2 posted on 12/21/2024 1:40:11 PM PST by DarrellZero

To: DarrellZero

Gee, recycling is like the face masks, but we have a garbage can for recyclables only and another for all other garbage.

3 posted on 12/21/2024 1:43:04 PM PST by Theodore R.

To: rktman

“really only PET and HDPE (types 1 and 2 in North America) can be readily reused”

That’s what I believe and act on.

To: rktman

I think it is Singapore where they burn their trash to produce electricity.

Metal is worth recycling.

Glass and rubber may be, there are any number of caveats to that.

But plastic and paper are not. At all.

Use them as fuel.

5 posted on 12/21/2024 1:44:14 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Not my circus. Not my monkeys. But I can pick out the clowns at 100 yards.)

To: rktman

6 posted on 12/21/2024 1:46:09 PM PST by RckyRaCoCo (Time to throw them out of the Temple...again)

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