Question

Can plastic be melted, incinerated or recycled without emitting harmful gases and CO2? Specifically, can this be done without releasing gases harmful to humans?

This question pertains to the melting performed during initial product production (in molds) and later during the recycling state.

I ask because I see differing positions on whether it’s more environmentally friendly to bury vs incinerate. I’m also curious how factories that mold plastic from those pellets insure there is no air pollution. Maybe some exhaust devices capture the harmful gases. Very curious because I visited Thailand once where there were factories and it smelled like burning plastic outside.

Hoping to hear a chemistry viewpoint.

Answer 1

Plastic can be melted, incinerated, or recycled, but each method has its own environmental impact. Burning or incinerating plastic releases harmful gases, while recycling helps reduce waste and conserve resources.

Step-by-step explanation:

Plastic can be melted, incinerated, or recycled, but each method has its own environmental impact. When plastic is burned or incinerated, it releases harmful gases, including CO2 and carcinogens, into the air. This contributes to air pollution and increases smog.

On the other hand, recycling plastic can help reduce waste and conserve resources. However, the recycling process may still emit some gases, depending on the specific method used. It is important for factories and recycling facilities to implement exhaust devices and proper air pollution control measures to minimize the release of harmful gases.