What are the three methods of dealing with waste polymers?

Answer 1

They go almost a thousand years (maybe more…) without decaying and they can be not broken down by decomposers.

Polymers can be difficult to dispose of because they do not break down easily.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

First, distinguish between two different kinds of polymers. Polymers are long chains of monomers. They exist in natural materials such as plants and can compost or decompose.

Plastics are synthesized polymers. Some plastics are also made from plants. However, the kind that threaten the environment and our health are synthesized from the waste products of kerosene, gasoline, and motor oil, all of which come from crude oil. Though plastics made from plants are still not great for the environment since their degradation releases relatively high amounts of methane gas.

Some of these petroleum-based plastics can not be recycled. There are so many different kinds of plastics, and unfortunately only a few are easily recycled.

If we reduce the number of chemicals that are used to produce plastics, thus limiting the kinds of plastics that exist, we could safely incinerate them with minimal dioxins released in the air, and produce electricity. Doing so would reduce the mass of waste by 99%. The 1% would be ash, which could be buried.

-----------------

they can not be disposed of because they do not decompose or rot away, but we can;

• recycle them, but different plastics need to be seperately recycled.
• Burn them, this may cause air pollution and wastes valuable resources.
• put them in land fill sites, this is not good because plastics are, non-biogradable,this means they wont rot

personaly i think it is best to recycle them, because it helps the environment.

Answer 3

The polymers are not biodegradable which means that bacteria cannot break them down. This means that when the polymers end up in landfill sites, they are preserved. When burnt, they produce very harmful gases and so at the moment people try to recycle them.

Answer 4

Certainly it depends on the definition of "waste polymers". Many thermoplastic materials can be recycled, assuming that contamination is not an issue. As a last resort, most polymers can legally be sent to a landfill.

Answer 5

Recycling, burning and burying them (landfill)

Answer 6

because the bonds between monomer of polymers are weak

Answer 7

Because plastics are not biodegradable.