Plastic Recycling: Is It Worth The Cost?

Plastic recycling is an important process that gives plastic a new life, keeping it out of the environment and reducing the need for new plastic made from raw materials. Recycling plastic saves energy and carbon, as it takes 75% less energy to make a plastic bottle from recycled plastic compared to new plastic. However, measuring the success of plastic recycling is difficult, as the amount of plastic that is actually recycled can be hard to determine, especially when it is sent abroad. The process of plastic recycling requires a $500/ton product price to earn a 10% IRR, and while 10% of today's end-of-life plastic is recycled, there is still a lot of work to be done to improve the recycling infrastructure and make recycling easier for people.

The cost of plastic recycling

Plastic recycling requires a $500/ton product price to earn a 10% IRR off of c$1,000/Tpa of up-front capex. This is at a mechanical recycling facility with 0.3 tons/ton of CO2 intensity. This is up to 80-90% below virgin plastics.

Mechanical recycling of plastics starts by aggregating plastic waste into bales, transporting it to a recycling facility (possibly via truck), then shredding it. Recycling companies report on the amount of sorted plastic that enters their facilities, for example, the weight of plastic bottles. When it comes to measuring exported plastics, it is the total amount that is sent abroad that is counted as recycling. However, whether the material is processed in the UK or abroad, some material is usually lost in the system. For example, the labels around plastic bottles are unlikely to be recycled.

While measuring the ‘output’ from a recycling process would be a better way to measure the weight of our recycling, it is more difficult, especially when material is sent abroad. Another important thing to consider when measuring recycling is how much plastic is used in the first place, since we are measuring the recycling as a part of this.

Reducing the amount of non-recyclable items in our recycling (contamination) is important, as this means that the materials sent for recycling are of better quality for recycling and stand the best chance of being turned into new items.

Recycling reduces the need for new plastic made from raw materials, saving energy and carbon in the process. It takes 75% less energy to make a plastic bottle using recycled plastic compared to newly made plastic.

The amount of plastic recycled

Recycling plastic is worth it because it gives the material a new life, keeping it in use and out of the environment. It takes 75% less energy to make a plastic bottle using recycled plastic compared to new plastic. Recycling also reduces the need for new plastic made from raw materials, saving energy and carbon in the process.

However, it is difficult to measure the exact amount of plastic that is recycled. Recycling companies report on the amount of sorted plastic that enters their facilities, for example, the weight of plastic bottles. But some material is usually lost in the system, such as the labels around plastic bottles, which are unlikely to be recycled.

When measuring exported plastics, the total amount sent abroad is counted as recycling. But whether the material is processed in the UK or abroad, some material is often lost in the system.

To improve the accuracy of recycling measurements, it is better to measure the 'output' from a recycling process rather than the 'input'. This would provide a more accurate weight of the recycling. However, this is more difficult, especially when material is sent abroad.

Another important consideration is the amount of plastic used in the first place, as this affects the amount of plastic available for recycling. Reducing the amount of non-recyclable items in our recycling (contamination) is crucial. This ensures that the materials sent for recycling are of better quality and have a higher chance of being turned into new items.

Mechanical recycling of plastics involves aggregating plastic waste into bales, transporting it to a recycling facility, and then shredding it. This process requires a $500/ton product price to earn a 10% IRR off of c$1,000/Tpa of up-front capex. Currently, 10% of today's end-of-life plastic is recycled, or around 40MTpa, within the global plastics industry.

The process of plastic recycling

Plastic recycling is a process that involves several steps, and it is important as it gives plastic a new life, keeping it out of the environment and reducing the need for new plastic made from raw materials. Recycling plastic saves energy and carbon, and it takes 75% less energy to make a plastic bottle using recycled plastic compared to new plastic.

The first step in the plastic recycling process is to aggregate plastic waste into bales. This involves collecting and sorting plastic waste into large bales, which are then transported to a recycling facility. The transportation of these bales to the recycling facility can be done via truck or other means of transport.

Once the bales of plastic waste arrive at the recycling facility, they are ready for the next step in the process: shredding. This involves breaking down the plastic waste into smaller pieces, which can then be further processed. After shredding, the plastic may undergo further processing, such as washing or melting, to prepare it for its new life.

The specific processes and techniques used in plastic recycling can vary depending on the type of plastic being recycled and the intended outcome. For example, mechanical recycling is commonly used for PET and HDPE plastics, but other types of plastics, such as polypropylene and PVC, may be recycled to a lesser extent. It's important to reduce the amount of non-recyclable items in our recycling bins, as this improves the quality of the materials being sent for recycling and increases the chances of them being turned into new items.

Overall, the process of plastic recycling is a complex and important one, involving multiple steps and considerations. By understanding and improving the plastic recycling process, we can reduce our environmental impact and give plastic a new life.

The value of plastic recycling

Plastic recycling is worth a lot to the planet, as it keeps plastic out of the environment and reduces the need for new plastic made from raw materials. It takes 75% less energy to make a plastic bottle using recycled plastic compared to newly made plastic. Recycling is the best option when it comes to disposing of plastic, as it gives the material the best chance of a new life rather than going to landfill or being burned for energy.

However, it is difficult to put a price on the value of plastic recycling. Recycling companies report on the amount of sorted plastic that enters their facilities, for example, the weight of plastic bottles. But when it comes to measuring exported plastics, it is the total amount that is sent abroad that is counted as recycling. Some material is usually lost in the system, for example, the labels around plastic bottles are unlikely to be recycled.

In terms of the economics of plastic recycling, it requires a $500/ton product price to earn a 10% IRR off of c$1,000/Tpa of up-front capex. This is at a mechanical recycling facility with 0.3 tons/ton of CO2 intensity, which is up to 80-90% below virgin plastics.

Overall, while it is challenging to assign a precise monetary value to plastic recycling, its worth lies in its environmental benefits, energy savings, and potential for reducing the demand for new plastic production.

The environmental impact of plastic recycling

Recycling plastic is worth the effort as it gives the material a new life, keeping it out of the environment and reducing the need for new plastic made from raw materials. It takes 75% less energy to make a plastic bottle using recycled plastic compared to new plastic. Recycling is the best option when it comes to disposing of plastic, especially when reuse and refill are not possible.

However, it is important to note that not all plastic is recycled. Some material is usually lost in the system, such as the labels around plastic bottles. Additionally, measuring the output from a recycling process, which would provide a more accurate understanding of the weight of recycling, is more difficult, especially when material is sent abroad.

To improve the recycling infrastructure and ensure that recycling is dealt with appropriately, efforts are being made to reduce the amount of non-recyclable items in the recycling process (contamination). This ensures that the materials sent for recycling are of better quality and have a higher chance of being turned into new items. Clear and understandable recycling labelling is also being implemented to make recycling easier for people.

Mechanical recycling of plastics involves aggregating plastic waste into bales, transporting it to a recycling facility, and then shredding it. This process requires a $500/ton product price to earn a 10% IRR off of c$1,000/Tpa of up-front capex, with a CO2 intensity of 0.3 tons/ton (80-90% below virgin plastics).

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