The problem is plastic can't be broken down and reassembled forever. Recycling isn't Lego. The focus should be finding ways to reuse something without altering it too much. But yeah it's not gonna save the planet sadly.

[–] Eheran@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

This is actually incorrect, you can absolutely break plastic into its basic constituents and create new plastic. But that costs more than simply using already existing oil.

The cheaper downcycle method is roughly separating the plastics and using certain ones to make new items like plastic bags, buckets etc.

[–] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

You can? I thought it deteriorates with every time that's being done but maybe that's just true for the methods that are economically viable.

[–] Eheran@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The polymer decomposes when you heat it up, yes. But you can also start from scratch, so to speak. But that is a more involved process. The same way you can reuse steel or melt it completely new.

[–] Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org 1 points 4 days ago

That's interesting, thanks for the input!

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I mean, plastic recycling is easy; burn it with filters, then put the filters in the hole where the oil came from. Then use a biodegradable replacement according to your needs.

[–] Eheran@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

What do you mean with filters?

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Those active coal and/or electrostatic ones you put in the chimney?

[–] Eheran@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

But why put them in the hole? If you have no clean burning, the filter mostly gets carbon, which can be burned again. Some plastics like PVC release HCl, so you need to scrub that, but the result is harmless table salt. The biggest issue is formation of dioxins, so you need to have a high flame temperature to make sure everything burns clean. Otherwise dust etc. could contain heavy metals, but that is not directly from the plastic.

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml -1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I mean, climate change is coal (C) we take out of reserves in the form of oil and gas (from times where climate was warmer) and then burn it with oxygen (O) to CO².
Yes, plastic is a problem with pollution. But no matter how much we recycle it or if it rots away over centuries, hurting animals and poisoning environments: the end result is still that it is processed oil (C) out of a hole, contributing to greenhouse effect.