[ars]

> plastic sure isn’t free in that regard!

The point is that it's free once it gets to the recycling stage. You could just dump the plastic in a landfill, or you can use it for energy.

Basically the efficiency comes from using the plastic twice, but paying for it only once.

> Plus, natural gas has significantly lower emissions than plastic to begin with.

Well the question is this then: Are we burning any oil at all for electricity? If zero oil in the entire US, then you can make this point. Until then, lets replace that oil with plastic.

As for your renewable comment, this is intended as something to do today, to at least help. Over time it won't be needed, and that's fine, but let's work on today.