Burning Plastic: The High Cost Of Environmental Damage

Burning plastic is an expensive process. Incineration facilities require costly power generators that cost millions to build and operate. Burning plastic also contributes to air pollution, with harmful chemicals released into the environment ending up in our lungs, bodies, and even in some of the foods we eat. Despite these drawbacks, some still advocate for burning plastic as a solution to end plastic pollution. With plastic production expected to double in the next 20 years, according to a report by the World Economic Forum, the question of how to manage plastic waste is becoming increasingly urgent.

Burning plastic is unsustainable

Plastic production is expected to double in the next 20 years, according to a report by the World Economic Forum. With recycling rates hovering around 30% in Europe and only 9% in the US, the majority of plastic waste will likely end up in oceans, lakes, and parks if it isn't collected for burning.

While burning plastic may keep some waste from being buried in the ground, up to 30% of it is left behind as solid ash or slag, which still needs to be disposed of. Additionally, incineration facilities require a continuous supply of waste to keep running, making it a more demanding waste management system. This means that the energy produced from these facilities is the most expensive of all energy sources.

The high cost of building and operating an incinerator, coupled with the environmental and health risks associated with burning plastic, makes it clear that burning plastic is an unsustainable practice.

Burning plastic is costly

The cost of building, managing and operating an incinerator is high. Incineration facilities require expensive power generators that cost millions to build and operate. For example, in June 2019, it cost Canada $250 to burn one tonne of waste at an incineration facility in Burnaby, BC, totalling $375,000 of taxpayers' money for 69 containers of waste. Once a costly plastic burning facility is built, it needs to burn lots of garbage for the next 30 or so years to pay for itself.

In addition to the financial costs, burning plastic also contributes to pollution through air emissions. Plastics, in particular, release pollutants such as dioxins and heavy metals when burned. These air pollutants pose a health risk to communities located near plastic waste incinerators, with about 80% of incinerators in the US found near low-income communities.

Furthermore, plastic production is expected to double in the next 20 years, according to a report by the World Economic Forum. With recycling rates still low, particularly in the US and developing countries, the demand for incineration facilities may increase, leading to even higher costs.

Overall, burning plastic is a costly and unsustainable practice that has negative environmental and health impacts.

Burning plastic can generate electricity

Burning plastic is an expensive process. It costs $250 to burn one tonne of waste at the incineration facility in Burnaby, B.C. The incineration facilities require expensive power generators that cost millions to build and operate. On top of that, incineration contributes to more pollution, through air emissions. Plastics, when burned, release pollutants such as dioxins and heavy metals. These air pollutants pose a health risk to communities located near plastic waste incinerators.

However, burning plastic can generate electricity. Sophisticated incinerators that burn plastic and other municipal waste can produce enough heat and steam to turn turbine blades and generate electricity for the local grid. Large plants do generate enough electricity to supply tens of thousands of houses. The waste-to-energy sector is likely to witness steady growth in the coming years, especially in the Asia Pacific region. China already has some 300 waste-to-energy plants operating, with another several hundred in the pipeline. Sweden has also been turning plastic into energy by burning it.

However, recycling plastic waste saves more energy than burning it. Studies have shown that recycling plastic waste reduces the need to extract fossil fuel and process it into new plastic.

Burying plastic is better for the environment

Burning plastic is an expensive process. It costs $250 to burn one tonne of waste at the incineration facility in Burnaby, B.C. The cost of building, managing and operating an incinerator is also significantly high. Incineration facilities require expensive power generators that cost millions to build and operate. Once a costly plastic burning facility is built, it needs to burn lots of garbage for the next 30 or so years to pay for itself.

Burning plastic also contributes to pollution. As much as 30 per cent of plastic gets left behind in the form of solid ash or slag after burning, which ends up buried in the ground. Burning plastic also releases pollutants such as dioxins and heavy metals into the air, which pose a health risk to communities located near plastic waste incinerators.

Plastic production is expected to double in the next 20 years, according to a report issued by the World Economic Forum. Plastic recycling rates, meanwhile, hover around 30 per cent in Europe, just nine per cent in the U.S., and zero or close to it in much of the developing world.

Burying plastic is therefore better for the environment than burning it.

Plastic burning facilities need to burn lots of plastic to stay running

On top of the financial costs, incineration also contributes to pollution through air emissions. Plastics, in particular, release pollutants such as dioxins and heavy metals when burned, posing a health risk to nearby communities. Incineration facilities are often located near low-income communities, with 80% of incinerators in the U.S. found in these areas.

Once a costly plastic burning facility is built, it needs to operate for the next 30 years or so to pay for itself. This means burning large quantities of plastic waste, which can have negative environmental and health impacts. As much as 30% of burned plastic can be left behind as solid ash or slag, which still needs to be buried.

Overall, plastic burning facilities require a significant amount of plastic waste to stay running, and the costs and impacts of incineration are high, both financially and environmentally.

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