Replies to post #5239 on Plastic2Oil Inc (PTOI)

[sdy]

It's definitely green in view of the reduction of landfill tonnage. Now if we could process disposable diapers we would be 'spring green'!

[techisbest]

stumiller: I think this analysis of the situation is wrong.

Biofuels make their claims about not putting more CO2 into the atmosphere based on the feedstock being used. Plants absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, so the net is supposed to be zero.

But plastics are derived from non-renewable sources and any CO2 released into the atmosphere is a gain.

Here's where I'm a little fuzzy: I don't know how much greenhouse gas is generated in the oil to plastic process. But I've got to believe it is much lower than combustion of diesel as a fuel. So anything that takes the oil out of plastic and returns it to the plastic manufacturing process would be a "green" solution in that it is not adding significantly to greenhouse gases.

I am certainly willing to learn from anyone with a different opinion about this.

A separate benefit, and one I'm sure most are aware of, is that it reduces our dependence on imported oil.