Plastic Should Be The Darling Of the Global Green Movement

Finally, a sensible response to plastic. It is the perfect environmental statement -- recyclable, reusable, takes up less space in landfills, a good long-lasting use of nonrenewable fossil fuel resources -- but eco-snobs shun it. I can't tell you how many times I've requested "plastic, not paper" bags at the supermarket, only to get disapproving looks or a lecture on how "they're made from non-renewable resources, you know." They're even trying to ban plastic bags in my state because they get blown all over trees -- that's a litter problem, not an intrinsic problem with plastic. Paper is seen as a darling because it's recycable and biodegradable -- a meaningless concept when most of our trash ends up in landfills, not recycling, and paper bags are going to take up a lot more space there than plastic. Good for you for stating the scientifically valid, not purely emotional, point of view.

Thanks Catherine. Yes, you are right, plastic occupies an emotional space with many people yet if you look at the chemistry of it, and its use, and properties, it comes up quite green and ecological.

They've already banned plastic bags in San Francisco. And as you rightly point out, what many people object about plastic is a littering problem and nothing to do with the material itself. (So compostable litter is less of a problem(?!) - it's the littering that's the problem.)

Your basic point--that interment of plastic in landfills is the only currently-functioning "re-sequestration" program--has some validity, but your analysis is woefully incomplete, given that upwards of 90% of plastic is made from oil, and manufactured through an energy- (and thus, emissions-) intensive process.

And yes, bio-degradable litter *is* less of a problem. See this account:

http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Ocean/Ocean-Plastic-Landfill-Algalita1nov02.htm

Can you please tell me the carbon content of plastic.

Mroy: The carbon content of plastic is quite high. Plastic is made from polymers-- long chains of carbon and hydrogen--the basic building blocks of oil.

Plastic can be made from vegetable oils, anything that can provide those carbon-hydrogen chains. Fossil fuel oil is the most easily obtained and it doesn't compete with food supplies.

Biodegradable plastic is a good solution but you should really educate yourself on the problems with plastic created from oil, it's effects on human hormones the amount of time it stays around breaking down into smaller and smaller bits. The amount of plastic actually recycled. Plastic is a human horror. the only reason I could imagine anyone making your statements is if they were invested in oil based plastic and blind to reality through human greed. Do you also support nuclear power? Just bury our toxic garbage for the future generations to deal with? That is not green thinking, it is true avoidance of the problems.

Susan: I don't have any investments in anything except this web site. Plastic is very inert, it doesn't react with much at all, which is why it is very good at trapping carbon for thousands of years. Biodegradable plastic returns carbon to the environment very quickly in the form of carbon dioxide. Biodegradable might be better renamed "carbon-returnable."
There is no comparison between the production of plastic and the production of nuclear energy, which is very harmful to the environment and its byproducts remain radioactive for thousands of years. Plastic remains inert and benign for thousands of years.

Mr. Foremski,

I'm not the best informed scientist concerning plastic, for I am only a high school junior, and it is a very reasonable refutation you have delivered pertaining to carbon emmissons. It would seem better to implement more plastic of some sort, in by creating a material that would stop carbon emmissions, we have reduced carbon pollution and wallah! Problem solved. It would also seem to solve a case scenario with the ammount of trees cut down by allowing an alternative to "paper" bags.

However, it seems that the only refutation really left to argue is like you say, "littering". If recycling is not the awnser, there must be some form or fashion in preventing society from polluting in this aspect.

Being an animal lover of some nature, I do know, that against your position defending plastic, I would have to use the refutaion that animals do eat this material, and there is no exception, it's toxic to thier diet.

I've seen to many photos of pollution to be dissuaded in this concern. Knowing that plastic is not biodegradable, atleast not for thousands or so of years, there must be an alternative concerning this aspect. Whether or not biodegradability is the awnser, I cannot say, for your opinion concerning "littering" as the main source of the problem would coincide with my POV as well. Yet, for the enviorment we must, in some form or fashion, decrease our waste product here! You, I, and the rest of the world, as intellectual beings and stewards to our Holy Father's creation, must find this awnser. I pray that we may.

Thank you for your opinion. Arguement is one the greatest, in my opinion, gifts from democracy. However, let us be torn over this issue... for "a house divided will not stand". May God bless us with the awnser, and until then, we must continue to present our opinion and thus stay active within this problem-solving community.

Thank you Mr. Foremski again, and may God bless thee always.

In His Love,
Wayne

Wayne: Responsible use of plastic will prevent littering and prevent it from harming animals. Plastic is a very inert substance which means it doesn't react with other substances which means it doesn't release its carbon. Sequestering carbon for many thousands of years is a good thing and I feel that plastic has received a bad rap for the wrong reasons.