[Blinks-]

I found an interesting article that breaks down some of the potential problems with this process and the risks involved with heating plastics and trying to differentiate between plastic and PVC (they release different compounds when heated, both potentially problematic). https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/heard-about-miracle-pl...

[schiffern]

> the risks involved with heating plastics ... (they release different compounds when heated, both potentially problematic)

The article makes this claim:

> Studies reveal that even heating plastics such as PP, PE and PS releases moderate to highly toxic emissions – carbon monoxide, acrolein, formic acid, acetone, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, toluene and ethylbenzene.

Citing this[1] paper. But the paper only shows toxic emissions from recycling plants operating at 200-300 degrees Celsius, not at 165 degrees Celsius (ie the peak temperature of asphalt).

[1] http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653508...

edit: btw the article's broken vimeo link was the trailer to Chris Jordan's incredibly powerful film Albatross (then titled Midway): https://www.albatrossthefilm.com/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLkTTJW4xZs

[mod]

From the OP's article:

> Asphalt is heated to a temperature of 170C (338F). Shredded plastic below 70 microns (including the multi-layer plastic shreds) is then sprinkled over it. The bits of plastic seemingly disappear, melting into the red heat.

[marzell]

"seemingly" disappear. How is this any different than, say, the banned "microbeads"? This just puts tiny fragments of plastic into the environment, which is even more difficult to collect/recycle/sequester than plastic bags and bottles. I think this is a well-intentioned, but overall terrible idea and I hope they are forced to find a better solution.