system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
If plastic is derived from petroleum, and the world has such a big litter problem with it, then why can't petroleum based plastics be turned into energy instead of being dumped? 

In other words, why can't we get energy from plastic (a product made from oil)?
gpt
Because it's still cheaper to drill, pump, ship, refine, and burn the stuff than to collect, sort, wash, and burn it. Plus, something like <1% of all electrical power comes from oil in the United States; it's much cheaper and easier to use natural gas and coal. Most oil goes towards fueling vehicles, and- unfortunately- recycled plastics don't lend themselves well towards burning in a combustion engine (not enough liquid hydrocarbons, not enough aromatic hydrocarbons). People are working on it, but recycling still ends up being pricey in comparison to pumping it. That may change eventually, but it's still a while off.