Plastics
Is the recycling of plastics bringing any long-term benefits to the environment?
Plastics are one of the most popular building materials of modern human culture, but its widespread has brought many problems and caused environmental issues of extraordinary scale. Throughout the years, discarded plastics are accumulating as debris in landfills and in natural habitats worldwide. To control this issue, governments of many countries have established industrial processes for transforming discarded plastic into useful materials, and educated communities to the benefits of recycling around the world.
Incineration reduces the need for landfill of plastic waste, although there are apprehensions that harmful substances may be leaked into the environment during the process. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and halogenated additives are normally present in mixed plastic waste, which can result to the threat of dioxins and other toxic chemicals being released into the atmosphere (Dr. Mercola, 2013).
Chemical Formula of PVC:
CH2= CHCI
Landfill of PVC has environmental and social impacts. This is due to the non-biodegradability of PVC, which stays in place indefinitely; PVC may release toxic chemicals that can possibly contaminate the soil and water (Dr Mercola, 2013).
Lowers Carbon Footprint:
Manufacturing plastics from recycled material require less amount of energy as compared to making them from new or virgin materials. Transportation means using vehicles that rely on fuels such as diesel or gasoline. These particular fuels are considered the most important source of green house gas emissions. (Nick.J, 2012) As recycling conserves energy, this means that less fuel will be utilized. Therefore, a lower quantity of carbon dioxide will be released into the environment.
Improves Employment Prospects:
In addition to reducing carbon footprint, more employment opportunities could be provided if recycling was taken into action. In a new study,
Plastics are one of the most popular building materials of modern human culture, but its widespread has brought many problems and caused environmental issues of extraordinary scale. Throughout the years, discarded plastics are accumulating as debris in landfills and in natural habitats worldwide. To control this issue, governments of many countries have established industrial processes for transforming discarded plastic into useful materials, and educated communities to the benefits of recycling around the world.
Incineration reduces the need for landfill of plastic waste, although there are apprehensions that harmful substances may be leaked into the environment during the process. PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and halogenated additives are normally present in mixed plastic waste, which can result to the threat of dioxins and other toxic chemicals being released into the atmosphere (Dr. Mercola, 2013).
Chemical Formula of PVC:
CH2= CHCI
Landfill of PVC has environmental and social impacts. This is due to the non-biodegradability of PVC, which stays in place indefinitely; PVC may release toxic chemicals that can possibly contaminate the soil and water (Dr Mercola, 2013).
Lowers Carbon Footprint:
Manufacturing plastics from recycled material require less amount of energy as compared to making them from new or virgin materials. Transportation means using vehicles that rely on fuels such as diesel or gasoline. These particular fuels are considered the most important source of green house gas emissions. (Nick.J, 2012) As recycling conserves energy, this means that less fuel will be utilized. Therefore, a lower quantity of carbon dioxide will be released into the environment.
Improves Employment Prospects:
In addition to reducing carbon footprint, more employment opportunities could be provided if recycling was taken into action. In a new study,