plastic recycling is greenwashing

[C_T_Russell]

I could have said this decades ago.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/5098...ort-author

[king1]

not at all, it is simply a start...
it can be made economical by imposing costs/tariffs etc on new plastics, in favour of recycled. The plastics are here, the only issue is how we address it now going forward...

The other aspect is, as a society we were certainly conned by the oil/plastics industries in much the same way we have been by the tobacco industry, big Pharma, chemical companies etc etc This is unfortunately what happens when you allow big business to run rings around politicians...

[C_T_Russell]

Recycling only delays the inevitable of it ending up in the landfill.
Best thing is to burn it in a waste to energy plant and remove all traces from the environment.
Europe does this and NZ should too. Its a valuable resource and could be a good incentive for cleaning the stuff up around the globe.

[king1]

certainly looks like it could be a good option, $440 million to build according to wikipedia, not sure how practical or economical that is going to be for little ol' NZ.

[C_T_Russell]

A smaller plant would not cost that much, could also work as an alternative fuel for Huntly possibly.

[king1]

might not be that economical when you downgrade it, economies of scale and the like.

What I don't like, is it might foster a non-renewable culture, which will just make the whole rape and pillage of the Earths natural resources happen even quicker... Destroying something is permanent, I think better to invest the time and money in finding ways to make the resources reusable/renewable. At some stage the cookie jar will be empty...

[harm_less]

A smaller plant would not cost that much, could also work as an alternative fuel for Huntly possibly.

That use was proposed for the Meremere Power Station but the company couldn't manage to make it viable. Unlikely that Huntly would fare any better.

[Zurdo]

Plus the main power house at Huntly is 20 years over it's designed 25 year life span.They actualy shut 3 of the generators down ready to decommission, but they started 2 of them up again.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Like anything else, the real work is being done by small businesses and individuals with bright ideas and the determination to work out the issues. Fence posts from soft plastics, earrings from printer waste, manufacturers mixing recycled with new. Every little bit helps.

And then, once their processes are proven, and the business case validated, along comes some big business and buys it up. Often to put it to sleep because it doesn't fit the big business model.

Those of us recycling are doing it because we want it to work. The nay sayers and doubting thomases can go jump, that kind of negativity won't stop clinate change.