florgetoNo Stupid Questions@lemmy.world·6 months agoIs it greener to just burn plastic?message-squarearrow-up150arrow-down18message-square22file-textfedilink
arrow-up142arrow-down1message-squareIs it greener to just burn plastic?florgetoNo Stupid Questions@lemmy.world·6 months agomessage-square22file-textfedilink
minus-squareGBU_28Englisharrow-up2arrow-down0·6 months agolinkfedilinkIt’s done in many modern parts of the world in proper incinerators, to produce electricity. The emissions are closely managed.
minus-squareWastedJobearrow-up1arrow-down0·6 months agolinkfedilinkStill not a great idea to burn recyclable resources. The stuff that would otherwise end up in a landfill, sure, but most plastics can be used again in some way.
minus-squareGBU_28Englisharrow-up3arrow-down0·6 months agolinkfedilinkWhen deciding to incinerate over recycle, that means the system has constrains on recycling ability or success such that incineration is preferable So if the choices are plastic in the dump/plastic in the ocean or incineration, then there’s a real decision to be made. These are real world systems, not classrooms
It’s done in many modern parts of the world in proper incinerators, to produce electricity. The emissions are closely managed.
Still not a great idea to burn recyclable resources. The stuff that would otherwise end up in a landfill, sure, but most plastics can be used again in some way.
When deciding to incinerate over recycle, that means the system has constrains on recycling ability or success such that incineration is preferable
So if the choices are plastic in the dump/plastic in the ocean or incineration, then there’s a real decision to be made.
These are real world systems, not classrooms