Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastics
submitted by Rachel Holmes
As we all know, plastics are all around us. We use plastics for a wide variety of products, from water bottles to body replacement parts. While these products are beneficial in many ways, they are also harmful.
Advantages of Plastics
- Recyclable – Plastics can be melted and used to make other products.
- Can be incinerated – Plastics can be melted down and may be able to generate electricity.
- Durable – Plastics can take the wear and tear of everyday life without falling apart.
- Resistant to the environment – Plastics are able to endure a variety of weather conditions without disintegrating.
Disadvantages of Plastics
- Flammable – This is definitely an advantage in that they can be melted down, however smoldering plastics can release toxic fumes into the environment.
- Cost of Recycling – While recycling is a plus, recycling is a very costly endeavor.
- Volume – In the United States 20% of our landfill is made up of plastics. As more products are being made of plastics, where will this lead us in the future?
- Durability – This is an advantage as well as a disadvantage. Plastics are extremely durable, which means that they last a long time. Those plastics in the landfill will be there for years.
Plastics make our lives easier, however is their cost on the environment worth it? We can only hope that soon someone will invent a way to safely and cheaply melt and reuse plastics.
Posted by John Wiesenfeld at November 26, 2003 04:04 PM