Every year US landfills receive tens of millions of tons of plastic, which can take hundreds of years to break down. But all that might change now that an Ohio company has developed biodegradable plastic that begins to degrade only when placed in landfills. Thanks to a new additive, water bottles, garbage bags and other plastic products have become appetizing meals for the microorganisms that inhabit landfills.
Biodegradable Plastics at Last!
Biodegradable Plastics at Last!
(via livepaths.brinkster.net)
Submitted by lfokp on Thu, 2008-01-03 15:49.
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Biodegradable Plastic
Be careful about landfill.
Hydro-biodegradable plastic (ie the type made from cornstarch) emits methane deep in landfill.
Methane is a greenhouse gas 23 times more powerful than CO2
Oxo-biodegradable plastic (ie normal plastic with an additive) does not emit methane, and is a lot cheaper.
Oxo-bio completely degrades leaving no fragments, heavy metals, or other harmful residues.
In future all disposable plastic should be oxo-bio. Then there will be no more masses of plastic waste floating on the ocean.
Michael Stephen
Symphony Environmental Ltd
UK
www.degradable.net