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TV wildlife expert Chris Packham backs oxo-degradable plastics

February 18, 2010 Comments Off

TV presenter and environmentalist Chris Packham has lent his support to degradable plastics by joining the Oxo-biodegradable Plastics Association (OPA) as its environmental adviser

Packham, whose TV credits include the wildlife series Really Wild Show and Spring Watch, will work with the OPA scientific team to increase the public’s awareness of oxo-biodegradable plastics.

Packham said he had been concerned about the effect of plastic waste on the environment and said both central and local governments in the UK were failing to do anything about the problem.

“Of course we must educate people to recycle their waste, but we will never collect it all,” he said.

“If oxo-biodegradable plastics are collected during their useful life they can be recycled with normal plastic, but if not it takes care of itself by harmlessly degrading, then biodegrading.”

Like conventional plastics, oxo-biodegradable plastic is made from a by-product of oil or natural gas. “As long as these are needed for fuel, it makes good environmental sense to use the by-product,” said Packham.

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