Is recycling plastic good for the environment?

Question

We are having a debate about recycling plastic, and whether it is good for the environment to recycle or not.

A reason why is would not be good for the environment is that is uses more energy to recycle something than it does to let it decompose naturally. Is this true? Please provide internet sources.

Answer 1

Dont worry about it. We will be long dead before we start to see the enviornment change anyway.

Answer 2

plastic doesn't decompose.

Answer 3

Recycling and reuse of any material is generally good for the environment.  Plastic materials contain about 10,000 Btu's/lb - it is almost a sin to throw away that much energy. Decomposing is not an answer, although there are plastics that decompose -  the energy in the material is not recovered when it decomposes - it is released as methane and carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. (Ever see those pipes coming out of landfills?  they are emitting those gases to get them out of the landfill so the landfill won't burn).  Recycling plastic, when done on a mass scale like is done in the 10 states that have deposit laws on bottles made from PET plastic, uses much less energy than is contained in the plastic bottles.  Plastic bottles can be, and are, recycled back into plastic bottles, packaging trays, polyester fiber for clothing, etc. saving the natural resources and energy that would have to be consumed to make these items from virgin materials.  And, using other materials for soda bottles, are much worse for the environment than plastic -  glass uses huge amounts of energy to make and recycle, uses a lot of energy to ship due its weight, is a dangerous consumer item, and is why it is no longer used for large soda bottles.  Ditto for aluminum - very good for small packages, but very energy intensive - and thus expensive - for larger packages, which is why you do not see aluminum cans much bigger than 16 ounces.

Answer 4

If plastic bags are left to blow around, wild birds and animals eat them and can choke on them. It sounds rediculous, but the RSPB (UK bird charity) say that thousands die each year. Therefore, it's better to re-use and recyle them, and to use as few new ones as possible.

Answer 5

I reuse the plastic bags I get. There are a bunch of ways to do it. Just use your imagination. As far as being good for the environment, you have to know what plastic is made of. It is an oil product. Now figure out how paper, for a bag, is made. Which one requires  less energy to make? Can you recycle both? Sure. I'd save a tree and go for the plastic. Recycle centers can also take the bags of both makes.

It is said a plastic soda bottle will decompose in about 400 years. Not so. It will however decompose into smaller pieces.

Answer 6

plastic is a toxin - it would be practical to use what is already here for building - but to just melt it down and reuse it over and over is not good - it is a toxin.

Answer 7

I recycle plastic bags at Wal-Mart. I have a question, can I recycle bread bags also???

Thanks, Ann

Answer 8

the earth wasnt give to us by our parents it was lend by our children , ,,, i think buying or using plastic should be avoided in the first place

Answer 9

YES if you can reuse something so you don't have to make more why not.  The more you make the more you pollute.  Plastic dose not decompose no bug or fungus eats Plastic.   The plastic just breaks down into tinny pieces but does not go away.

http://www.abc.net.au/science/planetslay...

It usually takes less energy to make recycled products; recycled aluminum, for example, takes 95 percent less energy than new aluminum from bauxite ore. Using recycled materials not only cuts down on the energy used in the manufacturing process, it dramatically reduces emissions of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants. For example, recycling one ton of glass results in energy savings of more than 300% and lowers carbon dioxide emissions by 3.46 tons.

Got that here

http://www.ccsolidwaste.org/Why_Recycle....

Fun recycle facts

http://members.aol.com/ramola15/funfacts...