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Question :
Do oxo-biodegradable plastics biodegrade in landfill?
Answer:
Sanitary landfill is essentially an anaerobic system. As already indicated, oxo-
biodegradable plastics cannot biodegrade before being oxidised by atmospheric oxygen. Thus, in the surface layers of a landfill where, oxygen is available, oxo-biodegradable plastic bags disintegrate rapidly, releasing their contents and the oxidation products are rapidly scavenged by aerobic micro-organisms.
However, the deep layers are anaerobic, and there the residual oxo-biodegradable plastic particles remain inert and contribute to the land carbon sink. Because they are present as small particles, they occupy much less space in the landfill.
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