Biodegradable plastics

Problems with plastic Can be recycled Many products used mixed materials –Not easy/not possible/not cheap to separate Landfill – can take 1000’s of years to breakdown What’s the aternative?

Biodegradable plastics Normal plastic – huge molecules –No microorganisms to eat it Bio-plastics – allow water and moisture to begin breakdown –Can then be degraded by microbes A lot less energy to produce Starch based plastics can be carbon neutral

Problems with going green Biodegradable plastic still takes time to breakdown – landfill Reduces the need for recycling facilities Release of carbon dioxide – greenhouse gas Problems if mixed with normal plastics for recycling