this post was submitted on 06 Feb 2024
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Science Memes

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We happy? Yeah, we happy. (startrek.website)
submitted 9 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 57 points 9 months ago (1 children)

From other times something like this came up:

  1. The rate of conversion is too low
  2. It will only eat plastic if other carbon sources aren't available
    Probably more, this is from the top of my head. Also, this will still cause the plastic to eventually be converted into CO2 which is released in the atmosphere.
[–] [email protected] 7 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Having it actually break down into CO2, water and a few other things would be way better than it permanently contaminating our food, water and ecosystems.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I agree, and it will probably break down anyway giving enough time. But it would be even better to take it out of the environment completely. The best would be not to even produce it for trivial stuff, so it doesn't get to pollute the environment.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

While it would be great to phase them out, we have to work with the world we have. One that wont switch off plastic production overnight and one that is already thoroughly contaminated. Something is going to be needed to break down what is already out there and minimize the damage of what continues to be produced.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You get a similar result by burning it for electricity and that removes coal/gas from the grid.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Youre not burning microplastics dispersed through water as fuel.