Rubbish and recycling

[Coldicote]

I wasn't sure where to put this, but science seems as good as anywhere. We hear a lot of concern about 'landfill' , 'landraise' and seas being polluted, but why is rubbish disposal so problematic when everything produced originates in this world anyway? There must be a limit to what can be produced. Plastic seems to be a major problem - what are the basic raw materials used to make it and is there any practicable alternative? Recycling has its limitations - could that be extended? It seems to me there is need for a big re-think on packaging in particular. I hope this might produce some interesting answers! Thank you.

[wildwood]

The main contribution to polution is low cost. Permanent rubbish of steel, glass and plastic can be eliminated all together. Some European countries already require a certain % of a new car to be recyclable. Oil based plastic can be replaced by organic plastic but it is expensive to produce, especially the clear stuff. The familiar supermarket bags can be made in a biodegradable form made from a rice derivative but the pennies talk.

At the moment it is still cheaper to make new glass than the power needed to chip, melt and clarify used glass. A refundable deposit on all glass containers would see most of it returned to the point of sale but the cost of just the handling, storing and returning it to the manufacturer by the retailer will be added to the product cost.

[Coldicote]

Thanks for your answer Wildwood - not surprisingly it's all down to money again! As you say it's cheaper to produce some things new than to recycle. I found this information about production of glass: -
"The mix of raw materials used in the production of flat glass is known as the batch, which is mainly composed of three components: silica sand, soda ash and dolomite/limestone. "
I haven't found the raw materials for making plastic or how it is done but will go on looking.

[Backdrifter]

Many of the raw materials (monomers) are derived from natural gas, oil and petroleum, from which they're separated out. Others come from natural cellulose-based substances e.g. wood. These can either be polymerised into plastics, or else used to synthesise the building blocks of plastics.

[Coldicote]

Thank you Backdrifter. You've filled a gap in my knowledge - no wonder the price of gas, oil, petroleum etc. is high. What a waste when you think of all the plastic that goes to landfill.