Recycling is a solution to trash piling up in the dump to change the amount of pollution and greenhouse gasses in the air. But is the money and chemicals used to change it really affecting the problem? The chemicals used to break down the materials pollute the air just as much as other gasses. This is called chemical recycling. That is why new solutions need to be made to fix the problems that chemical recycling isn’t fixing.
One feature of chemical recycling is gasification. Gasification uses gasses and high temperatures to help convert materials to different substances. One of the gasses used is carbon dioxide, which is the most effective gas contributing to pollution today. Solutions to this gas being released every time a product is recycled are mechanical recycling. Mechanical recycling is a better choice because it uses sorting, washing, re-granulating, and compounding. Instead of using chemicals, mechanical recycling uses a shredding process. In contrast, many think this is faster and can decrease the amount of crude oil used in our country. Crude oil is a type of oil made from dead plant and animal remains. Some say that if we keep using chemical recycling it will eventually limit the amount of crude oil used.
Another side-effect of chemical recycling is the health effects it has on humans. All of the chemicals used can damage almost every bodily process, including the brain, thyroid, reproductive organs, kidney, and pancreas. The solvent of this botheration is converting all materials to be biodegradable. Biodegradation is when materials are broken down by microorganisms into simpler, non-toxic substances. Applying biodegradable products to the market and people’s households could impact this problem by a landslide. Some don’t like the idea of biodegradable products because of their low durability. In addition, costs are a concern for our fellow citizens in America. As of 2023, biodegradable products for a business cost about $50 per package. With a business selling over a million packages a day to consumers, that is a very high-priced addition.
Why should we waste money on a non-effective matter? Chemical recycling is just as toxic to us humans and our environment. Recycling with chemicals is a risk to the human population by releasing gasses and oils into the air. Solutions to this are transferring to biodegradable products in the market and strategies that are used in mechanical recycling, as much as we are paying for these ineffective proceedings.
Cites: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products
https://pryme-cleantech.com/chemical-recycling#intro
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