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Disposal of Polymers:
Most plastics are not
degradable because decomposer organisms do not have the enzymes to
break them down. There are two important categories of degradable
plastic.
-
Biopolymers. These are polymers
made by living organisms, which decomposes are able to break down.
-
Polymers which break down naturally:
-
Photodegradable plastics break
down in sunlight.
-
Synthetic biodegradable
plastics are broken down by bacteria.
-
Dissolving plastics dissolve
in water.
It is possible to recycle
some plastics. It is necessary first to separate the plastics into
the different types. It is not yet economical to recycle mixed
plastic from domestic waste, although some plastic recycling schemes
are now in operation.
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