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Newly discovered bacteria can eat plastic bottles

phys.org

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Re: Newly discovered bacteria can eat plastic bottles

#21

Post by phpnode »

hanniabu wrote: post #19
Retric wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the issue with having plastic in dumps? IMO, they dumps are one of the few carbon sinks humans actually use. Releasing that carbon seems to be a waste.

We can't keep creating new garbage dumps, eventually we'll run out of land. If we can decompose plastic, let all the organics and paper based garbage decompose, then you have a lot more space for new garbage to be added.

I mean you're technically correct, but how long will that take? The earth is large and we have not covered even a fraction of 1% of it with landfill. It's unlikely that we'd actually run out of space in practice, it'd take thousands of years. Not that I condone the idea.

Re: Newly discovered bacteria can eat plastic bottles

#22

Post by Retric »

phpnode wrote: post #21
hanniabu wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We can't keep creating new garbage dumps, eventually we'll run out of land. If we can decompose plastic, let all the organics and paper based garbage decompose, then you have a lot more space for new garbage to be added.

I mean you're technically correct, but how long will that take? The earth is large and we have not covered even a fraction of 1% of it with landfill. It's unlikely that we'd actually run out of space in practice, it'd take thousands of years. Not that I condone the idea.

Not really, today's dumps are tomorrows mines. If we really don't want to keep this stuff over a very long time scale we could use a seduction zone and send our junk into earth mantle.

PS: Trash is matter, to generate cubic miles of the stuff we need cubic miles of raw materials.

Re: Newly discovered bacteria can eat plastic bottles

#23

Post by jessriedel »

hanniabu wrote: post #19
Retric wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's the issue with having plastic in dumps? IMO, they dumps are one of the few carbon sinks humans actually use. Releasing that carbon seems to be a waste.

We can't keep creating new garbage dumps, eventually we'll run out of land. If we can decompose plastic, let all the organics and paper based garbage decompose, then you have a lot more space for new garbage to be added.

Eventually the fusion process in the sun stops too.

Re: Newly discovered bacteria can eat plastic bottles

#25

Post by mason240 »

Retric wrote: post #14
mason240 wrote: post #8

Everyone seems to see this as a good thing, but think of terrible it would be if all the plastic items around you decomposed like wood. Sure, it would be beneficial for garbage and litter to "go away," but just think of how much more plastic we would need to use if every plastic item needed to be replaced every 10 years. I think it might have a significant impact on recycling as well - "rotten" plastic might be unrec…

Dry wood lasts a lot longer than 10 years. Presumably, dry plastic would also last a very long time. A paint can also protect stuff for a long time.

Except "not rotting or corroding in wet conditions" is one of the reasons plastic is so useful.

Re: Newly discovered bacteria can eat plastic bottles

#26

Post by wyldfire »

nataliam511 wrote: post #15

Anyone else concerned that by helping this new bacteria thrive it will set off a series of unforeseen side effects?

My username is a reference to Project Wildfire from "The Andromeda Strain". In the novel, Andromeda mutates into something that can consume rubber -- the same materials used throughout the world as seals against contagion.

So, yeah, if life imitates art it could get pretty interesting.

Re: Newly discovered bacteria can eat plastic bottles

#27

Post by Retric »

mason240 wrote: post #25
Retric wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dry wood lasts a lot longer than 10 years. Presumably, dry plastic would also last a very long time. A paint can also protect stuff for a long time.

Except "not rotting or corroding in wet conditions" is one of the reasons plastic is so useful.

People also used to use wooden boats.

Re: Newly discovered bacteria can eat plastic bottles

#28

Post by collyw »

Retric wrote: post #13
hanniabu wrote: post #10

I'm a bit confused. In the article it has these 2 statements: > "...enzyme breaks it down even further, providing the bacteria with carbon and energy to grow." > "I don't see how microbes degrading plastics is any better than putting plastic bottles in a recycling bin so they can be melted down to make new ones." Is it degrading it to basic elements such as carbon, or is the bacteria just breaking the plastic down in…

What's the issue with having plastic in dumps? IMO, they dumps are one of the few carbon sinks humans actually use. Releasing that carbon seems to be a waste.

I can't believe people are arguing for more landfill. Its inevitable that its going to happen, but that doesn't mean we should shouldn't try and minimize it. As we know lots of it doesn't end up in landfill.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/jan/19/more-plastic...

Re: Newly discovered bacteria can eat plastic bottles

#30

Post by logfromblammo »

nataliam511 wrote: post #15

Anyone else concerned that by helping this new bacteria thrive it will set off a series of unforeseen side effects?

Very much so. One of the things that makes plastics so useful is their tendency to not rot away in certain environmental conditions.
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