broall wrote:
Most disposable plastic containers are now labeled with a code number (from 1 to 9) indicating the type or quality of the plastic. Plastics with the lowest code numbers are the easiest for recycling plants to recycle and are thus the most likely to be recycled after use rather than dumped in landfills. Plastics labeled with the highest numbers are only rarely recycled. Consumers can make a significant long-term reduction in the amount of waste that goes unrecycled, therefore, by refusing to purchase those products packaged in plastic containers labeled with the highest code numbers.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the conclusion above?
(A) The cost of collecting, sorting, and recycling discarded plastics is currently higher than the cost of manufacturing new plastics from virgin materials.
(B) Many consumers are unaware of the codes that are stamped on the plastic containers.
(C) A plastic container almost always has a higher code number after it is recycled than it had before recycling because the recycling process causes a degradation of the quality of the plastic.
(D) Products packaged in plastics with the lowest code numbers are often more expensive than those packaged in the higher-numbered plastics.
(E) Communities that collect all discarded plastic containers for potential recycling later dump in landfills plastics with higher-numbered codes only when it is clear that no recycler will take them.
Source: LSAT
Plastic containers are now labelled 1 - 9. Low numbers are easiest to recycle. High numbers are not and need to be dumped in landfills.
Conclusion: Consumers can make a significant long-term reduction in the amount of waste that goes unrecycled, therefore, by refusing to purchase highest codes.
So the logic is simple. Low codes are easy to recycle, high codes are not. So for a significant long-term reduction in plastics that go in landfills, don't buy high codes. What will weaken this?
(A) The cost of collecting, sorting, and recycling discarded plastics is currently higher than the cost of manufacturing new plastics from virgin materials.The current cost of recycling is is irrelevant. We want that for long term benefit, most plastic consumed today should be that which is recyclable.
How much of it are we actually recycling today, doesn't matter. In any case, we ar elikely recycling some because the argument says "Plastics labeled with the highest numbers are only rarely recycled." Well then, perhaps the lowest codes are getting at least somewhat recycled. In any case, we have the long term perspective in mind.
(B) Many consumers are unaware of the codes that are stamped on the plastic containers.Whether consumers know it yet or not is irrelevant. We want to find that if consumer do start refusing to buy high number plastics, it may not have the desired effect.
(C) A plastic container almost always has a higher code number after it is recycled than it had before recycling because the recycling process causes a degradation of the quality of the plastic.This tells us that after gettign recycled, a low number plastic becomes high number plastic. Here is the problem then - if people refuse to buy high number plastic, there would be no use of recycling plastic. The point of recycling is reusing. If people do not want to reuse, then any kind of recycling will stop. Then in the long term, this action will likely have a detrimental impact instead.
(D) Products packaged in plastics with the lowest code numbers are often more expensive than those packaged in the higher-numbered plastics.Cost is irrelevant.
(E) Communities that collect all discarded plastic containers for potential recycling later dump in landfills plastics with higher-numbered codes only when it is clear that no recycler will take them.Irrelevant. In any case it tells us that higher numbered codes are refused by recyclers sometimes. So it is in line with the argument.
Answer (C)
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