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Re:The recycling myth: A plastic waste solution littered wit... by exporectomy on Saturday July 31, 2021 @10:48PM (#28023405)
If we just abandon all landfills for 1000 years with no maintenance, how much of that plastic do you estimate will end up released into the sea during that time? Will it be enough to cause a bigger ecological problem than what's already happened with plastic in the sea today?

Importantly, where did you get your data from? It can't be just your imagination because that's only a tool to reinforce what you already believe.

Re:The recycling myth: A plastic waste solution littered wit... by beerandt on Saturday July 31, 2021 @11:14PM (#28023516)
Modern US landfills are lined and capped water tight, and have been for decades. Permitting is a thoroughly reviewed process, by dozens of federal, state, and local government offices, and hundreds of officials and engineers. Monitoring wells ensure compliance.

Even if it's microplastic in that landfill water, it's not getting to the ocean. Worst case is it's captured with the decomposing gases and condensate, and reprocessed at a refinery or incinerated.

The plastic is much better deposited in US landfills than shipped overseas, where it may be directly spilled into the ocean, or dumped into open fields for the poor to manually sift for the most valuable material, and then there's no telling where the rest of it will end up once it rains.

Plus landfill plastic is sequestered carbon.

Even places that certify plastic recycling into a new end user product are often making worthless items that are given away so that they can claim zero waste. The material ends up as construction fill for hydraulic detention infrastructure, playground surfaces and sports fields, or even those "green" children's toys. Or cheap fleeces. Lots and lots of cheap fleeces, blankets, and snuggies.

The exact places we don't want that plastic to end up.

Re:The recycling myth: A plastic waste solution littered wit... by bigbluedots on Sunday August 01, 2021 @12:14AM (#28023748)
Right, except that plastics do not biodegrade for hundreds of years or more. Will landfills continue to be as well managed as you claim they are now in perpetuity? Unlikely.
Re:The recycling myth: A plastic waste solution littered wit... by beerandt on Sunday August 01, 2021 @12:54PM (#28027754)
The linings are also non biodegradable, and a solid multi-foot layer of non-permeable clay goes under that. The cap is also non-permeable clay.

The hydraulic conductivity of this clay is measured in millions of years per inch. It's water tight, and it's super absorbent.

Yes, perpetual containment is what they are designed for.

Re:The recycling myth: A plastic waste solution littered wit... by imtringued on Sunday August 01, 2021 @04:43AM (#28024806)
Oil doesn't biodegrade either.
Re:The recycling myth: A plastic waste solution littered wit... by beerandt on Tuesday August 03, 2021 @06:42PM (#28055144)
There are microbes that break down hydrocarbons for energy, but they aren't necessary for oil to break down.

Hydrocarbons can break down on their own, which is why you are supposed to change your cars oil every 3 months regardless of how many miles you drive.

Re:The recycling myth: A plastic waste solution littered wit... by TheSpiceIsLife on Sunday August 01, 2021 @05:33AM (#28025063)
Oil is a product of biodegradation, and can be biodegraded by some fungi.

It also degrades in the marine environment.