Maya Ellison
Plastic recycling is a complex and often misunderstood topic. Despite public awareness and efforts to recycle, the reality is that most plastic does not get recycled. In this paragraph, we will explore the reasons behind this issue and the global impact of plastic waste. The process of recycling plastic is challenging due to the material properties of plastics, with only certain types being recyclable, and the high costs of separating and processing them. Additionally, the market for recycled plastic is fragmented, making it difficult to find buyers. These factors, combined with the lack of proper infrastructure in many countries, result in low recycling rates and significant environmental consequences.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of plastic that gets recycled | 8%-9% |
| Percentage of plastic that doesn't get recycled | 91% |
| Plastic waste produced by the UK per person per day | 1.1 kg |
| Plastic waste produced by the UK per year | 230 million tonnes |
| Plastic waste produced by the US per year | 267 million tonnes |
| Plastic waste recycled or composted in the US in 2017 | 94.2 million tonnes |
| Plastic waste recycled in the US in 2017 | 8% |
| Plastic waste that is recyclable in the US | Only plastic bottles |
| Plastic waste that is recyclable in the UK | Only plastic bottles and milk jugs |
| Plastic waste that is exported by the UK | Equivalent of three and a half Olympic swimming pools every day |
| Destinations of exported plastic waste from the UK | Turkey, Malaysia |
| Previous destination of exported plastic waste from the UK | China |
| Plastic waste that is dumped or burned illegally | Well over half |
| Plastic waste that is dumped or burned illegally in China | British and European waste |
| Plastic waste that is dumped or burned illegally in Malaysia | British waste |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic waste is often dumped in countries with low recycling rates
Plastic is notoriously hard to recycle, and only around 9% of plastic waste is recycled globally. The rest is incinerated, dumped in landfills, or left in uncontrolled dumpsites, often in countries with low recycling rates.
Developed nations, including the UK, Germany, and the US, produce more waste than they can process at home. For example, the UK produces about 1.1 kg of waste per person per day, and exports 61% of its plastic waste. Germany exports even more, with an average of 1 million tonnes of plastic waste exported annually.
These countries often send their waste to countries with lax environmental regulations and low recycling rates, such as Turkey, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. This practice is known as "waste colonialism". In these countries, the waste is melted into plastic pellets, dumped, or burned, leading to serious health problems for nearby residents and environmental damage.
The COVID-19 crisis led to a slight decrease in plastic use, but the increase in littering, food takeaway packaging, and plastic medical equipment has driven up overall littering. International cooperation is needed to reduce plastic production and improve waste management and recycling infrastructure, especially in lower-income countries.
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Plastic is not always recyclable
Firstly, not all plastics are created equal when it comes to recyclability. Thermoplastics, which make up about 75% of global plastic production, can be melted and molded multiple times, making them technically recyclable. However, the remaining 25% of plastics are thermoset plastics, which contain polymers that form irreversible chemical bonds and do not soften when heated, making them extremely difficult to recycle. Examples of products containing thermoset plastics include electrical insulation, ropes, belts, and pipes.
Secondly, even when plastics are technically recyclable, they may not be recycled due to a lack of infrastructure and proper waste management systems. Many countries, including the UK and the US, produce more waste than they can process domestically and have relied on exporting their waste to other countries for recycling. However, countries like China, Thailand, and India have begun refusing to accept foreign plastic waste, leading to a global waste crisis.
Additionally, the quality of recycled plastic is often inferior to primary plastic due to the use of various additives and the degradation of polymer chains during the recycling process. This results in downcycling, where recycled plastic is used to create products with lower technical or aesthetic qualities, limiting the market demand for recycled plastic.
Furthermore, plastic waste that is exported or dumped abroad often ends up in landfills, rivers, or oceans, contributing to ecological damage and causing serious health issues for nearby residents. The burning of plastic waste, as seen in countries like Malaysia, releases toxic fumes and smoke, impacting the air quality and the health of local communities.
While plastic recycling is an important part of reducing our ecological footprint, it is clear that it is not always recyclable. To address the global plastic pollution crisis, we need to explore alternative solutions, improve waste management systems, and reduce our reliance on single-use plastics.
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Plastic recycling is costly
Plastic recycling is a complex and costly process. It involves multiple steps, from collection and sorting to cleaning, processing, and repurposing. The high cost of plastic recycling can be attributed to various factors, including the price of raw materials, energy consumption, transportation, and the complexity of plastic types.
Firstly, the cost of recycling plastic is influenced by the price of raw materials used to create virgin plastic, such as petroleum and natural gas. The cost of these materials, particularly petroleum, has been steadily rising over the years, impacting the overall cost of recycling. Additionally, the price of oil plays a significant role in the cost of recycling versus creating new plastic. When oil prices are low, it becomes more economical to produce new plastic rather than recycle existing material.
Secondly, the process of recycling plastic requires significant energy consumption, which contributes to the overall cost. Mechanical recycling, the method often favored by governments due to its familiarity, requires energy for operations like sorting, washing, chopping, drying, melting, filtering, and cooling. These energy requirements add to the expense of recycling.
Thirdly, transportation costs between storage facilities and recycling plants can increase the overall cost of plastic recycling. Longer distances between these locations result in higher contract prices, as observed in a study on recyclable plastic containers and packaging in Japan.
Finally, the complexity of plastic types poses a challenge for recyclers. Plastic products are classified into several types, such as PET #1 for water and soda bottles, and the recycling process varies for each type. The variety of plastic resins and the need for specialized recycling methods contribute to the overall cost.
It is worth noting that while plastic recycling may be costly, there are potential economic and environmental benefits. For instance, recycling can create jobs and contribute to a country's economy. Additionally, the demand for high-quality recyclable materials is growing, and advancements in technology and infrastructure may lead to reduced recycling costs in the future.
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Plastic is often incinerated or dumped in landfills
Plastic is a significant contributor to global pollution. When plastic waste is not recycled, incinerated, or kept in sealed landfills, it becomes an environmental pollutant. Unfortunately, the reality is that most plastic is not recycled. National Geographic and the OECD report that 91% of plastic does not get recycled. This means that a staggering amount of plastic is either incinerated or dumped in landfills.
Incineration is the process of burning plastic waste. While this may seem like a solution to the plastic waste problem, it comes with a host of negative consequences. The burning of plastic releases toxic fumes and smoke, which can cause serious health problems for people living nearby. These toxins can cause skin rashes, breathing difficulties, nausea, and even cancer. The ash and other pollutants released during combustion can travel long distances, spreading these harmful impacts even further.
In addition to the health risks, incinerating plastic also contributes to environmental pollution. The toxic fumes and ash can contaminate the air and eventually find their way into rivers and oceans. This has devastating consequences for marine life, with millions of animals dying each year due to plastic entanglement and ingestion.
When plastic is not incinerated, it often ends up in landfills. Landfills are designed to contain waste and prevent it from leaking into the surrounding environment. However, plastic can take thousands of years to break down, and during this time, it can still cause harm. Landfills can become overwhelmed, leading to plastic waste being blown by the wind into nearby rivers and oceans. This is a significant issue, as most of the plastic flowing into the ocean today comes from middle-income countries, particularly in Asia.
The plastic waste crisis is a global issue, and no single solution exists. However, improving waste management strategies is crucial to mitigating the problem. This includes ensuring that plastic waste is properly recycled, incinerated in a controlled manner that minimizes toxic emissions, or disposed of in sealed landfills. Additionally, reducing plastic production and promoting reusable alternatives can help reduce the overall amount of plastic waste generated.
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Plastic is a major cause of pollution
Plastic is one of the most durable materials ever created by humans, taking hundreds of years to degrade. This quality, which makes it a versatile and useful material, is also the reason why it is a major cause of pollution.
Plastic pollution is most visible in developing Asian and African nations, where garbage collection systems are often inefficient or non-existent. However, countries with low recycling rates also struggle to properly collect discarded plastics. Plastic trash has become so ubiquitous that it has prompted efforts to write a global treaty negotiated by the United Nations.
The majority of plastic pollution in the ocean is caused by littering. We use disposable plastic items (food wrappings, plastic bags, razors, bottles, etc.) and do not dispose of them properly, causing them to end up in waterways and, eventually, in the ocean. Plastic waste in the ocean has a devastating impact on marine life and ecosystems. Animals die from ingesting plastic, which causes internal injuries, infections, and starvation as their stomachs become filled with plastic. Nearly 2,100 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics.
Much of the world's plastic pollution is generated by single-use products such as bottles, caps, cigarettes, shopping bags, cups, and straws. In fact, single-use plastics account for 40% of the plastic produced every year. Pollution sources are mainly land-based, coming from urban and stormwater runoff, littering, industrial activities, tyre abrasion, construction, and agriculture. In the marine environment, plastic pollution originates primarily from land runoff, but also includes paint shed from shipping and discarded fishing gear.
The build-up of plastic litter can have a negative impact on a country's economy and trade systems, with income declines in sectors such as small and medium enterprises, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, and water safety. Plastic pollution and climate change are two sides of the same coin: plastic production, as it is created from fossil fuels, highly contributes to the climate crisis. When plastic waste is incinerated, it releases carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, increasing emissions and worsening global warming.
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Frequently asked questions
According to National Geographic, only around 9% of plastic is recycled, with 91% ending up in landfills. Other sources state that the percentage of plastic that gets recycled is even lower, at 8%.
There are several reasons why most plastic isn't recycled. Firstly, not all types of plastic are recyclable. Secondly, food residue on plastic containers can prevent them from being recycled. Additionally, the cost of recycling plastic is high compared to producing new plastic, which is still relatively cheap. Finally, there is a lack of infrastructure for recycling plastic in some countries, and it can be difficult to find buyers for recycled plastic.
Plastic that isn't recycled often ends up in landfills or incinerated. In some cases, it is sent abroad to countries with low recycling rates and a serious problem with plastic waste being dumped or burned illegally.
