It’s a Gas

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Waaay back in June of 2014, when I had about ten followers–none of them followers of today–I wrote this poem. I just stumbled upon it, having totally forgotten it, but it seems so timely today as we become more and more aware of the mess that plastic has made of our world, that I decided to rerun it.

It’s a Gas

I know that I saw it on You Tube
(and I’m sure that it wasn’t a dream)—
a machine that shreds old soda bottles
and melts them to make gasoline.

The machine they were using to make it
was compact—and could possibly be
installed in each house or wherever
you think you might like it to be.

Grocery stores, motels or roadside—
(wherever these bottles collect)
instead of machines set for vending,
would have a machine to inject

with all of the plastic you brought there
and for it you’d get, I deduce,
credit for all of the petrol
the bottles you brought in produce.

Every gas station would honor
these chits that you’d get every day.
You’d make a big saving on gas bills
with bottles you once threw away.

You could save up your old plastic bottles
and toss them right into your trunk
right next to the tools and blankets and flares
and all of the usual junk.

And when you next went for refreshments,
for soda or candy or chips,
you could also deposit your bottles,
’cause your car also needs a few sips.

The process I describe here is not fictional. Google “pyrolysis” if you want more information.

15 thoughts on “It’s a Gas”

      1. koolkosherkitchen's avatarkoolkosherkitchen

        I recall that the first electric cars have appeared in 1979. It only took 40 years too see them on the roads, and it did not require the roads to be rebuilt. Perhaps in a few more decades the next generation will use the sun-powered road.

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            1. lifelessons's avatarlifelessons Post author

              No, but I’ve been really stressed over this situation, Dolly. Sometimes pessimism is appropriate. It isn’t enough to rail. There has to be a solution. I realize we can’t take unlimited numbers of people, but restraining them in horrible conditions and conducting progroms in the barrios isn’t the answer.

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  7. Marilyn Armstrong's avatarMarilyn Armstrong

    We don’t have a recycling place in this town. We used to have a machine in the grocery store but it has disappeared. So we recycle them, but I’m pretty sure they actually just get dumped with the rest of the trash. Plastic is such a huge problem!

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