[Ellingson, Kenneth L]

Ellingson, Kenneth L  asked the Naked Scientists:

Chris

Why are most plastics not biodegradable? What makes some greener plastics biodegradable?

Knute Ellingson, Chicago

What do you think?

[chrissylynn]

Thats a great question. i dont know how to answer it but i have had a similar question roaming my brain. Ok so , everything we make has had to start out from natural resources right? So shouldnt plastic or foam and such be able to go through some sort of cycle back through the earth if the components of the plastic or object came from the earth at some point.

[lyner]

For most applications, it would be very inconvenient for them to biodegrade.
Tools, pipes, insulation, cups, etc. mustn't degrade. Plastics are very economical for these applications.
Plastic bags, even, could be problematical unless you know how long they will last.
Their chemistry makes them  rather uninviting as an energy source for animals or fungi so they tend to just stay there.
If only we could find a suitable bug to eat the stuff and produce foold/ oil from it.

[thedoc]

Listen to the answer to this question on our podcast.

[Karsten]

If only we could find a suitable bug to eat the stuff and produce foold/ oil from it.

And now imagine this bug getting out into the environment. Better be a bug that can be controlled. Similar to the "other" controllable environmental experiments.

OOps, the synthetic thread holding together my clothes just got eaten! []

[btchoutex]

I object and move to strike as non-responsive.