Mattbonsai

Now, I'm not trying to ruin the whole, we should do our bit and protect the environment arguement, but I've been pondering.

Let's get a few things straight.

1- Crude Oil is used to make Plastics such as carrier bags, and Fuels such as petrol.

2- Burning Products made from crude oil releases Carbon into the atmosphere, that was stored beneath the ground for millions of years. And we all accept the higher carbon dioxide levels in the air result in polluted seas, melting ice caps and irregular and extreme weather.

3- There is Limited amounts of Crude oil in the ground, and once it's gone, it's gone.

Right, now the point.

Many people are trying to force us to re-use carrier bags, or use alternatives such as paper, card, hessian, and rigid plastic. But wouldn't it be better for the planet if we used more of them?

Let's take 10, 1 Gallon drums of Crude Oil for Example, 6 of them will be used to make petrol, and 4 of them will be used to make plastics, if we save on plastics and recycle them, then maybe only 1 drum may need to be made into new plastics, but then 9 drums are made into petrol.

But If we use more plastics, then 6 drums will be used to make plastics, and only 4 will be made into petrol.

Plastics are often buried in massive landfills after use, releasing virtually no Carbon dioxide, But petrol, is always burnt, and always releases massive amounts of Carbon dioxide into the air.

Carbon dioxide being released into the air is going to do much more damage to the planet than filling 10,000 acres for example with buried plastics.

Yes it will mean that we wont be able to power our cars cheaply when petrol runs out, but it will inspire us as a species to find alternative methods, and governments to help make the alternatives cheaper and available.

-Matt-

__________________

bonsaidad

I cannot honestly see that being the answer to the age old question.
You cannot simply just continually push plastics into holes in the ground, as there is only so much land to do so.
Then what do you do?.
No!, start to recycle materials now and save on the use of virgin raw materials.
I use to work in a cable factory, which made high power cables used for underground,
There was no wastage there, as any overspill was chipped up, and recycled for black covering.
This was some thirty five years ago!.


Best regards BD Paul

__________________
Old Chinese proverb says.
Go to bed with itchy bum.
Wake up with stinky finger.

ficusfanatic

yeah, the point is to resuse what we have not keep dumping sh*t in the ground. plastics also release chemicals worse than co2 ( recent nalgene scare and worse). i think we may need to take away some of your treehugger points.

Phil

I would say, less plastics and bury the politicians! They won't take long to decompose as most are already walking fertilizer. Lot's of wasted methane in those governmental institutions. The best of both worlds! It's a win, win solution!
Just a thought......

~Phil

__________________

Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

bonsaidad

Oh i am not a tree hugger, i am just an ordinary Joe Blogs looking for a sensible answer.
Its by far better to reuse the plastic we have, than to just dump it, its the lesser of the two evils.
Plastics have done more for our way of living than people give credit for, and we would be lost without it, so unless they come up with an alternative we are stuck with it.
Try and buy something without plastic in it somewhere?.



Best regards BD Paul

__________________
Old Chinese proverb says.
Go to bed with itchy bum.
Wake up with stinky finger.

Mortalis

The answer is tell your car dealer no plug no deal. (buy electric cars) Chevy volt comes out in 2009 more manufactures are to follow by 2012 so if your car still runs hold off a little on a new one until the new long range electrics show up. (up to 300 miles per 6-8 hour charge and up to 60 miles for a "quick 15 min charge) They have estimated the cost coming in at around the equivalent of 15 cents per gallon in electricity.

Mattbonsai

I agree that dumping plastics is never good, and I do do my bit, but it's just the thought of maybe there is a different way.

If the Earths oil supplies start running out quicker than expected, then surely the scientists and politicians would get off their asses and look into alternative fuels.

Re-using the plastics is much, much better than burying them, but would you not agree that using more crude oil to make plastics is better than using less, leaving more to be used for fuel?

I have a funny feeling that maybe the government bodies are trying to save oil used for plastic production just so they can maintain our destructive way of life for as long as possible. and these companies that start charging for carrier bags are just trying to make money by jumping on the bandwagon.

Landfill is not completely wasted land, once full it can be built upon, in the town where I live the Morrisons supermarket, Car transplants place, and Mc donalds are all built on top of a landfill site.

Electric cars do sound really good, but they can only benefit the planet if the governments change the way their countries power is produced, if we stay as we are, the coal and oil burnt will do even more damage to the planet to charge the cars. I think, unless the governments can change to re-newables or even Nuclear (yes disposing of the waste is an issue, but it is better than coal) The only way to go is Hydrogen powered vehicles, where the only emissions are harmless H2O, but they haven't quite perfected the technology, such as the issue of, how do you store highly expolosive Hydrogen safely?

__________________

bonsaidad

I have to change my car every three years, but recently i have changed to a dieseled engined vehicle, far more economical than petrol.
But when an electric car comes on my scheme i will most certainly be getting one, and by then they would be a lot more advanced.


Best regards BD Paul

__________________
Old Chinese proverb says.
Go to bed with itchy bum.
Wake up with stinky finger.

bonsaidad

Well if anything does happen to the hydrogen, you just put your head, between your legs, and kiss your a@se goodbye.



Best regards BD Paul

__________________
Old Chinese proverb says.
Go to bed with itchy bum.
Wake up with stinky finger.

Mortalis

Electric cars still have a lower carbon foot print compared to a regular gasoline cars. Power plants are much more efficient >75% at converting fossil fuels to electric power than a gas car is able to generate power <40% and an electric car can capture energy through regenerative breaking.