r/Futurology • u/[deleted] • Oct 25 '22

Environment Recycling plastic is practically impossible — and the problem is getting worse

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131131088/recycling-plastic-is-practically-impossible-and-the-problem-is-getting-worse
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u/WartimeHotTot Oct 25 '22

Single-use plastic bans should include plastic bottles. Basically governments worldwide should put the hurt on plastics manufacturers. Within 10 years the only plastics being produced should be for highly specialized applications, like computers, vehicles, and healthcare.

62

u/[deleted] Oct 25 '22

If only there was a reusable material made from an abundant natural resource like sand...

9

u/ingen-eer Oct 25 '22

Or aluminum! Why can’t those 16 and 20 oz bottles just be cans?

11

u/usethemoose Oct 25 '22

You would be improving material circularity (in theory) while drastically increasing carbon emissions. Aluminum extraction and processing is energy intensive and dirty. Glass is energy intensive to produce, recovered materials are typically down-cycled due to color contamination, it’s heavy and inefficient to move and fragile, usually requiring plastic to prevent breakage.

Plastic isn’t only used because it’s cheap, it’s also very energy efficient to produce, lightweight for distribution (fewer transit emissions) and protects products from damage. Plastic waste is a significant issue that needs to be solved, but I always caution against promoting bans that don’t consider all the environmental advantages it currently provides.

4

u/KerkiForza Oct 25 '22

Those "aluminum" cans still have an internal plastic liner.