That requires money. I am for spending that money to make recycling economical.
But the powers that be won’t do that.
We are eating, the animals and plants are eating primarily polyester from clothing.
UN is holding meetings on ways to limit the plastics problem. Capping global production is one idea but strongly resisted by petro companies that make plastics. They see it as a growth industry and if fossil fuels do go away it likely will be their largest business.
We know how to deal with plastics. Increase recycling. Tax new plastics to encourage companies to used recycled plastic and use those taxes to subsidize collection and processing plastics.
Bottle bill. Putting a deposit on all plastic containers might do a lot to get people to collect them and turn them in.
Yes, there’s a problem but we have too much resistance to obvious solutions.
Plastic has to be recycled at large scale to be economical. Something like four zones in the US each with an investment of $100 billion for the collection and processing into raw plastic. I forget the name for it. Peet?
I think the political will is with us to outlaw polymer fibers in clothing. That would be a huge improvement. We do not have enough political will for the rest of it.
1 Like
Eastman Chemical is the one with the best process for recycling PET plastics. The plant in Kingsport, TN is running successfully and contributing to profits in their most recent quarterly report.
The Eastman process converts plastic to DMT a major raw material for PET plastic. That high value raw material does much for the economics.
They have two other plants in the works. One in Texas and one in France. Pepsi has agreed to use the plastic from the one in Texas.
There are companies like Exxon that can recycle PE and Polypropylene by cracking. But product is a refinery stream worth no more than $0.20/lb. Probably won’t cover cost of collection and transportation. Highly automated production of new plastic with minimal labor makes it difficult for recycled plastics to compete. Labor intensive. Lots of collection, sorting, and transportation costs.
2 Likes
Those costs have to be included.
Yes, including collection, sorting, reprocessing costs with new plastic is one way to do that. Tax on new plastic seems practical.
Good idea, but will Congress get its act together and address the issue. Dream on!! The opposition has powerful lobbyists. Not likely any time soon.
Yes, we do know how. And what is needed. But Congress continues to snooze!!
Clothing is the 2nd largest source of microplastics. The largest is tires. You can recycle all you want, tires will still be on the roads, wearing out.
We need to with something, and not sit out dealing with something.
At least with the clothing the consumer item is designed to be used over and over. While the plastic water bottle is used once and tossed. Single use items should be the first and most heavily taxed.
Hey, I know let’s put pipes everywhere so people can get drinking water right in their homes!
Mike
2 Likes
The problem with multiple use clothing each wash cycle take micro particle plastics into the water supply. Bottles much less so. We can round up plastic in landfills one day. We can’t strain all the water on earth.
I agree if we can throw around 145% tariffs we can tax plastic containers to the hilt. Force glass to be used.
How does the polyester get from clothing into our food? What are the significant pathways and can they be minimized?
DB2
You can stop washing your cloths. That should slow the problem considerably.
How does a washed polyester shirt get into food?
DB2
Bob,
I am refusing to answer you. Think it over for yourself.
Well, that’s real helpful.
What are the significant pathways? Ingestion? Inhalation? We have several ChemE types on the board. Pauleckler? Wendy?
DB2
1 Like
Both, but ingestion is the primary method.
1. Shedding of Microfibers During Washing
Polyester is a synthetic (plastic-based) fiber. When polyester garments are washed—especially in a washing machine—they shed tiny plastic fibers, known as microfibers. Each load of laundry can release hundreds of thousands of these fibers.
2. Wastewater Pathways
- The microfibers go down the drain with the wastewater.
- Most wastewater treatment plants do not fully filter out microfibers, especially the very small ones.
- As a result, some fibers end up in treated water that is discharged into rivers, lakes, and oceans.
- Even those that are captured in sludge can re-enter the environment if the sludge is used as fertilizer on land (biosolids), spreading microplastics into the soil and waterways through runoff.
3. Environmental Accumulation
Once in the environment:
- Microfibers do not biodegrade. They persist for decades or longer.
- They can be ingested by aquatic and land organisms, including plankton, fish, and birds.
- This can lead to bioaccumulation and potentially enter the human food chain.
4. Factors That Increase Shedding
- Newer clothes shed more.
- Harsh washing conditions (hot water, heavy agitation).
- Use of a dryer can also cause shedding, with some fibers ending up in the air or lint trap (which may also eventually reach the environment if not disposed of properly).
Pete
5 Likes
All of our washing machines and dryers have lint filters. Spun fibers routinely release lint. And some probably gets through filters.
But most lint is probably cotton. Polyester could often be continuous filament. Less given to lint formation.
And what happens to cotton microfibers? Are they a concern?
We probably don’t launder much wool. What about linen?
Again this has political spin. The ag people are far more effective defending their products than the plastics people. Plastics are an easy target.
What? Is that supposed to say do nothing?
No, this is supposed to say we should apply the same rules to all similar materials.