Study: Biodegradable plastics could worsen global warming (This Is Hugh!)

McClatchy-Tribune News Service ^ | Aug. 3, 2011 | Helen Chappell

[PROCON]

RALEIGH, N.C. — New plastics designed to break down naturally have been hailed as environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional plastics. Instead of taking decades or even centuries to decompose, they vanish in a few years.

But new research at North Carolina State University suggests they may not be so green after all.

The study, led by NCSU doctoral student James Levis, found that biodegradable plastics can release large amounts of methane gas when they break down in landfills. Methane is one of the most problematic greenhouse gases, able to trap much more heat than carbon dioxide, making it a major contributor to global warming.

[PROCON]

found that biodegradable plastics can release large amounts of methane gas when they break down in landfills. Methane is one of the most problematic greenhouse gases, able to trap much more heat than carbon dioxide, making it a major contributor to global warming.

Bu, bu, but, I was told biodegradeable was good?!

[PROCON]

Ping-a-lingy!

[cranked]

Interesting how of late, the ecoweenies and AGW idiots have been getting hammered with studies that are contrary to their religious beliefs.... =.=

[Truth29]

This, at first, looks like the joke is on the greenies; but after reading further, the findings could be used to enforce mandatory waste separation and recycling - more government mandates and controls.

[chipper dave]

Great, the dumps will be exploding like volcanoes!

[Keen-Minded]

Sounds like a new energy source.

[PROCON]

the findings could be used to enforce mandatory waste separation and recycling - more government mandates and controls.

Here in Oregon, we have a nickel deposit on all soda, beer, etc containers; now it'll probably come to a fee on recycling "earth-friendly" containers...SHEESH!

[GOPJ]

Something liberals hate - bags - might make their pet ‘scam of the decade’ worse. What a coincidence....Next they'll discover that Tea Party members cause global warming ...

[ken21]

lol!

[PROCON]

Next they'll discover that Tea Party members cause global warming ...

Yes I do!

And I already have 2 conservative kids who will make the libs lives hell for decades to come, BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA, a living Tea Party legacy..:=)

[PROCON]

Next they'll discover that Tea Party members cause global warming ...

Yes I do!

And I already have 2 conservative kids who will make the libs lives hell for decades to come, BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA, a living Tea Party legacy..:=)

[NoLibZone]

"Sounds like a new energy source."

That will upset the greens even more!

[steelyourfaith]

Thanx for the ping PROCON !

 

Beam me to Planet Gore !

[China Clipper]

Interesting, but who is Hugh?

Do you mean "huge"? Like "Really big"?

Just wondered....

[factoryrat]

Some landfills are designed to capture that methane, and burn it to produce steam or electricity, ultimately recapturing some of the energy that went into making those products. Sounds like recycling to me.

[PROCON]

Interesting, but who is Hugh?

Ha!

Hugh comes from FReeper Lore, scroll down to..... well to HUGH..:=)

[SteamShovel]

Some landfills are designed to capture that methane, and burn it to produce steam or electricity, ultimately recapturing some of the energy that went into making those products. Sounds like recycling to me.

I think it would be less costly and less landfill intensive to simply collect and burn the plastic in a waste to power boiler.

But the enviro-weenies don't like combustion or boilers. So we make biodegradable plastic, fill the landfills with it, and probably capture a fraction of the methane. At least with real non-biodegradable plastic, it goes in the landfill and remains ---- a plastic bag or bottle.

[Grut]

I do have reservations about plastics that break down into chunks that some organism somewhere is eventually going to mutate to find digestible. Breeding plastic-eaters doesn’t strike me as all that wise.

[big bad easter bunny]

So now these guys have to fret over fake unintended consequences? Hilarious.

[clearcarbon]

I hate containers that biodegrade earlier than
the expiration date of the product it contains.