[ricardobeat]

Polymer bank notes are considered better for the environment because of durability and under the guise of recycling, but now that we know about the catastrophe of microplastics, are they really?

The volume is massive: with the most used notes lasting 3-5 years it won't be long until you have a billion plastic notes in circulation.

[madeofpalk]

Usually though we like to keep money, rather than release it into the ocean.

[ricardobeat]

The average lifespan for lower value banknotes can be a mere 12 months. They degrade, get lost and damaged during normal use.

[bildung]

Textiles (through washing) and Tyres (abrasion on the road) are by far the biggest sources of microplastics. https://www.eib.org/en/essays/plastic-pollution

Introduction of these notes will probably not even be visible in microplastics assays.

[londons_explore]

Textiles seem like quite an easy fix - simply require HEPA style liquids filters on every washing machine before water is sent down the drain.

The filter could be big and designed to last the life of the machine. It's far better to dispose of a single chunk of solid plastic waste than the billions of particulates that would have gone into waterways...

[BillinghamJ]

I wouldn't have thought that bank notes would typically turn into microplastics? They don't tend to fall apart and would be returned for incineration or recycling when they need to be replaced - you can't continue to have the money/value if it gets thrown away

[londons_explore]

I think you'll find those £50 notes will last decades or more in someones safe...