Comments

Biased and shortsighted claims about the unfounded "dangers" of plastics only add to the overall confusion and further endanger the environment. Making a full comparison of the Energy consumed and Pollution generated throughout the Total Life Cycle of Plastics, versus other materials traditionally used in everyday life, will clearly demonstrate the many advantages of plastics. Steel, Copper, Aluminum, Zinc, Wood, Glass, Paints, etc. require substantially more energy to produce and emit substantially more toxins than the vast majority of plastics. Every material has its advantages and we need to know how to use each of them and handle each of them properly. When you are building a House, you want it to be DURABLE and not require extensive or complicated maintenance procedures that in turn require more labor and often also the use of dangerous chemicals. VINYL SIDING is NOT toxic; and the fact that it does not biodegrade is actually its main advantage. (You do not want your house to biodegrade under your nose; you want it to be durable). Vinyl is 100% recyclable, so when you are bored with the looks of your house and you want to remove the vinyl siding, you just need to pick it up and recycle it; and not through it away carelessly, because it will not biodegrade and "disappear" by itself. You do not leave food leftovers laying around your house, just because they are biodegradable, and wait patiently for them to "disappear" by themselves. You pick them up and leave the place clean. Planet Earth is our HOME. The fact that we as humans have been lousy caretakers of our HOME (Planet Earth) does not mean that plastics are toxic. Just leave some good old-fashioned biodegradable food around your house for a week and you will see what happens to the environment inside your house… The correct use and handling of plastics is probably one of the most beneficial factors in helping us to take care of our environment. Mario Bautista (SiMBA) Houston, Texas, USA