Closed: The Chinese city Britain uses as a dustbin

[jujuman13]

Considering that amount of Plastic waste that evidently the UK alone exports to China, also considering that the amount of Plastic used in packaging most products we buy is something we pay for several times over.
1) when we buy the Product.
We then have to wrestle to get separate the wrapping from the Product, only to toss the wrapping away in our refuse.
2) we pay for collection of the refuse.
Now we learn that this Plastic waste is exported to China where it indirectly affects health and life by being recycled, the unwanted material being diverted into Rivers and subsequently into the seas, where we once again pay by having all our seas polluted.
It should not be beyond someone's inventiveness to devise a Biodegradeable plastic that can be used for packaging.
Link
Closed: The Chinese city Britain uses as a dustbin | the Daily Mail
One could understand our lack of concern for the health of the Chinese, but considering where this plastic ends up, we are in effect poisoning ourselves.

 

[jfuh]

Considering that amount of Plastic waste that evidently the UK alone exports to China, also considering that the amount of Plastic used in packaging most products we buy is something we pay for several times over.
1) when we buy the Product.
We then have to wrestle to get separate the wrapping from the Product, only to toss the wrapping away in our refuse.
2) we pay for collection of the refuse.
Now we learn that this Plastic waste is exported to China where it indirectly affects health and life by being recycled, the unwanted material being diverted into Rivers and subsequently into the seas, where we once again pay by having all our seas polluted.
It should not be beyond someone's inventiveness to devise a Biodegradeable plastic that can be used for packaging.
Link
Closed: The Chinese city Britain uses as a dustbin | the Daily Mail
One could understand our lack of concern for the health of the Chinese, but considering where this plastic ends up, we are in effect poisoning ourselves.

Again, this is another instance in which the technology is already present.
Poly-lactate.

 

[jujuman13]

I have been aware that such a technology exists, what I am unaware of is what if any waste it leaves behind, does it simply break down, does the breakdown damage the ground?
Can the broken down waste be used for anything?
I am also curious as to why it is not being used?
Cost I suppose?

 

[jfuh]

I have been aware that such a technology exists, what I am unaware of is what if any waste it leaves behind, does it simply break down, does the breakdown damage the ground?
Can the broken down waste be used for anything?
I am also curious as to why it is not being used?

To all these above yes it's very easily broken in fact, you could add some artificial tastes and literally eat the wrapping.

Cost I suppose?

Yes, cost is an issue, polylactate using current synthetic means is quite expensive, and without much demand on the market - not too many ppl keen on eating food wrapping.
However, polylactate is a compounds that can be made through bacteriological means the same way cellulose can be made. But there's not enough research there because it's an unpopular topic that doesn't get governmental grants.