[Boogieman]

Sure, but that would take energy to feed the reactions, and money to collect, sort, and transport all the plastic. Plus I think most of the plastic ending up on the ocean is not being dumped in the ocean intentionally by responsible parties who care about the environment.

A simpler solution is just to burn plastic and use the heat from that to generate electricity to offset the costs of collecting it. Fat chance the green crowd would let us do that though.

[Fresh Wind]

Plus I think most of the plastic ending up on the ocean is not being dumped in the ocean intentionally by responsible parties who care about the environment.

Like India?

[Savage Beast]

To burn the plastic is a good idea. I don't know whether incineration would reduce it to harmless chemicals.

We should reduce pollutants to harmless chemicals before sending them into the oceans.

Years ago, when I lived in a beautiful old mansion on a beautiful river in a historic area, I had to replace my septic tank. The plumber told me that in olden times, the toilet waste was just piped untreated into the river and that the pipes were still in place, that he could re-connect them and save me the cost of replacing the septic tank. I was outraged at the very idea. I fired him and hired another plumber to replace the septic tank.

I have no sympathy for environmentalist whackos! I have had some extremely unpleasant dealings with them!

But I am a true environmentalist, as are most, maybe all, of the Freepers who post here on FR--and unlike the mentally ill whacko fools!

I am also a true liberal, as are most, maybe all, of the Freepers who post here on FR--and unlike the mentally ill fools who love to call themselves liberal but who in fact are the opposite.

I'm sure that you are a true environmentalist and a true liberal also, Boog. Otherwise you wouldn't be a Freeper--you'd be posting on...what's that site that's so left-wing nutcase...? I can't remember.