A Sankey Diagram of Plastic Flows in the UK.

[NNadir]

An interesting diagram, a Sankey Diagram of plastic flows in the UK is found in this paper: What to Do about Plastics? Lessons from a Study of United Kingdom Plastics Flows Michał P. Drewniok, Yunhu Gao, Jonathan M. Cullen, and André Cabrera Serrenho Environmental Science & Technology 2023 57 (11), 4513-4521.

Here it is:

[JudyM]

1. So much is incinerated!

[NNadir]

2. The irony of that is that in most venues incineration is considered "renewable energy."

In environmentalism, as in many other areas, branding is more important than reality.

Nevertheless, with the existing infrastructure, this is probably the least noxious option, with emphasis on "least" which is not to say acceptable.

There are two ways to destroy plastics that are potentially sustainable: Pyrolysis in a vacuum, and (steam or CO2) reforming. Both of these options are potentially closed carbon cycles, if an only if, the source of energy is carbon free.

I very much want to steer my son in this direction as he proceeds in his training in nuclear engineering. I hope I convince of the importance of this before I die.