Plastic - Burn It or Bin It?

stargirl73

This is just a rhetorical question that I often wonder about and can't weigh up the arguments in my own head as I don't know enough really.

I'd be interested in folks' comments, just as a discussion point.

We don't have doorstep plastic recycling here in Gateshead - yet. It has been mooted that it will happen but only HDPE and PET. I already save these items up for an ad hoc run to the plastic recycling point in the village.

But nowhere around here that I know of, takes PP5 - the stuff of mushroom containers and yoghurt pots which seems to make up the majority of my rubbish.

We have an open fire (though live in a smokeless area!) and on the odd occasion when we can't get the fire going, we have, sin of sins, used a yoghurt pot ot two to get it going.

My question is - which is worse? Sticking it in landfill for thousands of years never to disappear? Or burning it and releasing noxious fumes that will destroy our atmosphere?

I don't know. Neither feels like a good thing to do but at the moment we have precious few options when it comes to these things.

And on a slightly different tack.....My MIL puts all types of plastics into her local plastic recycling bin. I know for a fact it's only PET and HDPE but she puts everything in. I've tried to say gently to her that it's by doing such things that will eventually result in the facility being taken away as the chaps at the recycling depot will have to go through and separate out the non-recyclable stuff. But she continues to do it. Am I right to be worried that she might be spoiling it for the majority of recyclers? We all hate the plastic problem but I believe we have to be patient for now until they discover an economically viable alternative to landfill - or stop using the stuff in the first place. I know things don't seem to be happening quick enough for her, or for me if the truth be known, but we don't want our local councils to renege on what services they are currently offering.

I just feel she isn't helping the situation - but again, I don't really have any hard facts to back my arguments. Does anyone have any comment please?

Thanks for reading

autismmum

ok, i confess, i also occasionally put in non recyclable plastic in, my prob is we only get fortnightly collection and my bin fills up fast (5 in house) i recycle wood, organic waste, clothes, furniture, card, paper, glass, tins, plastics and tetrapacs by the way.

geordie_joe

stargirl73 wrote: »

My question is - which is worse? Sticking it in landfill for thousands of years never to disappear? Or burning it and releasing noxious fumes that will destroy our atmosphere?

The chances are, in Gateshead, that it will get burned anyway. So if you can't put it in the recycling you may as well burn it.

I remember the 60's when we had a coal fire and burned everything. Anything that could burn was either thrown on the fire or kept for starting the fire in the morning.

Putting plastic in the ground is not good, neither is burning it. But if you can't recycle it then these are the only two options you have, and only you can decide which you consider to be the lesser of two evils.

If anyone objects to you burning it, tell them you will stop doing it when they stop using their car. The stuff that comes out of cars is just as deadly as anything smoke you will be creating. Just remind them that a hose pipe from the exaust into the car window is one of the most successful suicide methods known to man.

tight-git

just googled 'burning plastic' -->

how about this then ----:eek:

http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2006/04/08/63819.html

Burning plastics could alter human sexual behaviour


also this ->

http://www.gov.pe.ca/infopei/index.php3?number=60944

my own advice, put it in the bin!

Jonesya

geordie_joe wrote: »

If anyone objects to you burning it, tell them you will stop doing it when they stop using their car. The stuff that comes out of cars is just as deadly as anything smoke you will be creating. Just remind them that a hose pipe from the exaust into the car window is one of the most successful suicide methods known to man.

That's not the case though - modern engines are controlled to ensure good combustion and the catalytic converter is there to react with and remove carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbons.

If you burn plastic in an uncontrolled open fire you could get all sorts compounds going up with the smoke. Plus if you burn chlorinated plastics then you've got the risk from dioxins and other compounds.

geordie_joe

Jonesya wrote: »

That's not the case though - modern engines are controlled to ensure good combustion and the catalytic converter is there to react with and remove carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbons.

What comes out the exhaust pipe still kills you quicker than anything I know. If you don't believe me try breathing it.

simgranny

If it goes to landfill, at least it will not be releasing harmful gases at this critical time for the environment. This buys us time for future technology to come up with a solution to the problem of releasing the energy that is locked up in these products in a less harmful way.

raggydoll_2

The better solution is of course to avoid buying it in the first place wherever possible (which it mostly is i think, buy loose mushrooms and put in a reusable onya weigh it bag or similar and make your own yoghurt which is reasonably easy to do for example) and if you do have it to try to find alternative uses for it around the house. I would avoid burning at all costs and contact the council to find out where your nearest recycling facilitiy is for that sort of plastic. You should have a household recycling centre that will take pretty much everything, try them.