Green Query

[frabjousdave]

Which is greener, recycling a two-liter plastic bottle or recycling an equivalent number (say, six) of aluminum cans?

Comments

[frabjousdave]

Well, sure. But I'm looking for a simple answer to the complicated question. :)

[mimerki]

Per Salon, the plastic.

[mimerki]

I was a bit annoyed that for a fairly binary question (I would accept a third "about equal" option), the answer seemed verbose and indirect. And yes, I found the final point sort of weird: Sure, you can't make fleece out of aluminum but I'm pretty sure you can't make cookware out of PET.

The Salon article

[andrew_the_oga]

After reading the above comments and going off to read the article, I'm reminded of the saying, "Figures don't lie, but liars figure."

Whenever they talk about "equivalent greenhouse emissions" without explicitly defining their energy sources, they're selling you something.

[buhrger]

i'm sure i'd heard somewhere that aluminum is one of the few materials which is easier to recycle than to produce from raw materials, but i sha'n't be able to come up with a timely citation to back up my assertion.

Almost all metal products area asier to recycle

[andrew_the_oga]

...than to make from ores. Aluminum is just "very much so," by a factor of about twenty. One question to consider is where the heat and electricity are coming from to power your recycling plant.

[thegreymouser]

Greening from a more personal level - nothing is worst than wasted pop because it became flat. I stock cans for my own use, but use bottles if I'm hosting a party.

[nightrogue]

Aluminum cans are the only cost effective form of recycling, I believe. Here's Penn and Teller on the subject in three parts......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onDbTL9DFpA

[mort_q]

Penn is a hack!

Cost shouldn't be the issue

[andrew_the_oga]

Recycling of metallics has never needed a "green" imperative, because it's always been cost effective.

But cost shouldn't be the issue, IM(nv)HO. I really think we have to be willing to pay more for greener products-- through direct consumer cost (admittedly a disincentive to individuals) or through government subsidy (admittedly disincentive to certain groups). Otherwise we're just seeking to save the world by wringing our hands and agreeing with one another.

[buhrger]

Otherwise we're just seeking to save the world by wringing our hands and agreeing with one another.
i agree.
[wrings hands.]