This article doesn’t really cover the main questions about recycling plastic, like does it have any negative impact on the environment when you throw away plastic.<p>The case for “no”: <a href="https://medium.com/@robertwiblin/what-you-think-about-landfill-and-recycling-is-probably-totally-wrong-3a6cf57049ce" rel="nofollow">https://medium.com/@robertwiblin/what-you-think-about-landfi...</a>
On a first take, I assumed the title was referring to microplastics (e.g., the literal consumption of plastic), but then I realized we probably have no idea how much microplastic is inside humans (and all other animals), and what the long-term consequences will be.<p>I'm fine with the idea of plastic, but single-use plastic has got to go. We shouldn't accept the disposal of plastic into our waterways and food chain without scientific researching proving that microplastics are safe-- though it's doubtful they are. Why do we invent new physical things without first considering the consequence of the lifecycle of the product? If plastic was invented today, no regulatory body would allow us to use it as we do.
The article assumes there is a problem without talking about landfills or incineration.<p>If you want to make sure plastic never gets into the ocean, disposing of it properly should do it. If it doesn't, something is wrong with how garbage disposal is done and that needs to be fixed.