The Degradation Of Recycled Plastic: Value Loss Explored

Plastic is one of the most common materials in the world, with humans having created around 11 billion metric tons of it. However, it is also one of the most difficult materials to recycle. The low value of scrap plastic, the high costs of recycling, and low oil prices mean that recycling plastic often costs more than manufacturing new plastic. This has led to a decrease in recycling rates, with many localities resorting to incineration or landfill for plastic waste. Even highly-recyclable plastics will degrade in quality over time, with processing limits of just two to three cycles before they are no longer usable. Despite these challenges, there is hope that recycling plastic can become more cost-effective in the future, with new outlets for waste materials potentially affecting the price of scrap.

The low value of scrap and high costs of recycling

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastic Economy Initiative sets a standard that plastic must have a recycling rate of 30% to be considered recyclable. However, no plastic has ever been recycled and reused close to that rate. This is due in part to the fact that more plastic is being produced, and an even smaller percentage of it is being recycled. The plastic recycling crisis is expected to worsen as the industry plans to triple plastic production by 2050.

The low value of scrap plastic is also impacted by the fact that plastic degrades in quality over time. Even highly-recyclable plastics such as PETE or HDPE will degrade in quality with each cycle of recycling, with processing limits of just two to three cycles before they are no longer usable. This further reduces the value of scrap plastic and increases the cost of recycling.

Additionally, the high costs of recycling plastic are influenced by the challenges of keeping track of global recycling efforts. Monitoring and record-keeping vary across different regions and countries, making it difficult to accurately assess the impact of recycling initiatives. This lack of standardised data contributes to the overall high costs of recycling plastic.

The global restructuring of the scrap market

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastic Economy Initiative has set a standard that plastic must have a recycling rate of 30% to be considered recyclable. However, no plastic has ever been recycled and reused close to that rate. In fact, a 2020 study published in Nature found that humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic, surpassing the biomass of all animals, both terrestrial and marine.

The crisis is only getting worse, as the industry plans to triple plastic production by 2050. This will put an even greater strain on raw materials and contribute to global emissions. Plastic manufacturing already adds 3.4% of global emissions, more than the aviation and shipping industries.

Despite these challenges, there is potential for the price of scrap to be positively affected, making plastic recycling cost-effective in the future. However, even recycled plastic goods will eventually end up in landfill or incinerators, and the quality of the plastic will degrade over time, with processing limits of just two to three cycles before they are no longer usable.

The low recycling rates of plastic

Plastic recycling rates are low, and the problem is getting worse. Humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic, which surpasses the biomass of all animals, both terrestrial and marine.

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastic Economy Initiative sets a threshold of a 30% recycling rate for plastic to be considered recyclable. However, no plastic has ever been recycled and reused close to that rate. In fact, Greenpeace found that even soda bottles, one of the most commonly recycled items, do not meet this threshold.

The crisis is worsening as plastic production continues to increase, and an even smaller percentage of it is being recycled. The industry plans to triple plastic production by 2050, according to Greenpeace USA's senior plastic campaigner, Lisa Ramsden.

Furthermore, the recycling process for plastic is complex and often requires specialised equipment and infrastructure, which may not be available in all localities. As a result, many areas have resorted to incineration or landfill for scrap materials that are less valuable or cannot be processed.

The limited number of times plastic can be recycled

Plastic is inherently problematic within the recycling industry. Even highly-recyclable #1 (PETE) or #2 (HDPE) plastics will degrade in quality over time, with processing limits of just two to three cycles before they are no longer usable. This is because each time plastic is recycled, the fibres become shorter and the quality degrades. Paper, for example, can generally only be recycled six times before it can no longer be used in paper products.

The low value of scrap and high costs of recycling, coupled with low oil prices, means that recycling plastic now costs more than manufacturing virgin plastic. This has resulted in not only increased recycling costs but also lower recycling rates, as many localities have resorted to incineration or landfill for scrap materials that are less valuable or that simply cannot be processed.

Greenpeace found that no plastic meets the threshold to be called "recyclable" according to standards set by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastic Economy Initiative. Plastic must have a recycling rate of 30% to reach that standard; no plastic has ever been recycled and reused close to that rate.

The environmental impact of plastic waste

Plastic is a global problem. Humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic, which surpasses the biomass of all animals, both on land and in the sea. Plastic does not biodegrade and can take up to 1,000 years to break down. This means that when it is discarded, it builds up in the environment until it reaches a crisis point.

Plastic pollution has become ubiquitous in natural and built environments, raising concerns about potential harm to humans and nature alike. Research shows that once plastic pollution is in the environment, it can fragment into smaller pieces of plastic, known as microplastics and nanoplastics. These are found in every ecosystem on the planet, from the Antarctic tundra to tropical coral reefs.

The vast majority of plastic waste enters the environment via landfill or marine and terrestrial litter, with a smaller percentage being incinerated. All methods result in the release of toxic metals, organic substances, acid gases, and other toxic substances into the air, water, and soil. Some of the toxins released by plastics are some of the most toxic substances on earth, such as dioxins and furans. The inhalation of contaminated air, direct contact with contaminated soil or water, and ingestion of foods grown in a polluted environment can lead to severe short and long-term health effects, particularly for workers and fenceline communities.

Plastic pollution can also alter habitats and natural processes, reducing ecosystems' ability to adapt to climate change and directly affecting millions of people's livelihoods, food production capabilities, and social well-being. The production of plastic is one of the most energy-intensive manufacturing processes in the world, contributing to 3.4% of global emissions (1.8 billion tons of greenhouse gases).

Despite these issues, recycling plastic is challenging. Only a small fraction of plastic waste is economically or technically viable to recycle, representing just 9% of all the plastic ever produced. Recycling rates in some parts of the world have largely plateaued in recent years, despite plastic production continuing to increase. More than 98% of single-use plastic is still made from fossil fuels, and the low value of scrap and high costs of recycling, coupled with low oil prices, mean that recycling plastic now costs more than manufacturing virgin plastic.

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