Recycling Plastic: How Much Of It Actually Gets Recycled?

Plastic is a material that is, in theory, recyclable. However, only a small percentage of plastic is actually recycled due to the complex nature of the process. In 2018, the recycling rate was 8.7%, and scientists believe that just 9% of the world's plastic is recycled. The remaining 91% of plastic waste is discarded, ending up in incineration, landfill, or polluting the environment. The low recycling rate is also due to the fact that brands believe throwing plastic packaging away is cheaper than recycling it.

Plastic recycling rates vary widely depending on the industry and type of plastic

The low recycling rates are due in part to the challenges of recycling plastic. Plastic is made from oil or gas, which are major sources of carbon pollution. Additionally, the plastic lobby and supermarkets in some countries lobby against deposit return schemes that include plastic bottles. As a result, about 85% of plastic ends up in landfills, with 10% incinerated.

The scale of the problem is hard to internalize. To date, humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic. This amount surpasses the biomass of all animals, both terrestrial and marine, according to a 2020 study published in Nature. With plastic production set to triple globally by 2060, the problem of plastic waste is only going to get worse.

The recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant

While the amount of recycled plastic is relatively small, the recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant. Humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic, and only around 5% of plastic waste is recycled. In 2018, the recycling rate for plastic was 8.7%, which equates to three million tons.

The scale of the problem is hard to internalise. According to the Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plastics report, about 85% of plastic ends up in landfills, with 10% incinerated. This means that less than 5% of plastic is actually repurposed. The National Association for PET Container Resources found in 2017 that only 21% of the plastic bottles collected for recycling were turned into new things.

The United States is the world's biggest plastic polluter, and yet only around 5% of plastic waste produced by households in 2021 was recycled. With plastic production set to triple globally by 2060, it is a growing source of carbon pollution fuelling climate change. Much of it is also ending up in oceans, severely impacting marine life.

The low cost of raw materials and plastic makes it easier to dispose of plastic than recycle it

The amount of plastic that is recycled is relatively small. In 2018, the recycling rate was 8.7%, and in 2021, only 5% of plastic waste in the US was recycled. This is because the cost of raw materials used to make virgin plastic, such as petroleum and natural gas, is low, and the cost of recycling is often higher than the cost of disposal.

The cost of recycling a plastic bottle compared to making a new one depends on the location of the bottle and the price of oil. In some areas, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, recycling plastic can be more economically beneficial than dumping it. However, in other areas, the cost of recycling may be higher than the cost of disposal, especially if the area is far from recycling centres or if the price of oil is low.

Additionally, plastic is a more valuable material than other products that can be made from methane, a cheaper renewable feedstock. This makes it more economically viable to produce new plastic than to recycle it.

The low cost of raw materials and the high value of plastic compared to other materials make it easier to dispose of plastic than to recycle it. However, recycling plastic can be extremely cost-effective for companies, as it reduces waste disposal costs and energy consumption. It also reduces the negative environmental impacts of virgin material extraction and processing.

Recycling requires robust sorting systems that separate materials before recycling

The problem is only getting worse, with plastic production set to triple globally by 2060. Humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic to date, which surpasses the biomass of all animals, both terrestrial and marine.

The majority of plastic ends up in landfills, with 85% of plastic waste being disposed of in this way. This is a significant issue, as plastic made from oil or gas is a growing source of carbon pollution, contributing to climate change.

Plastic recycling is an important part of the picture, but we need to look at other solutions to the global plastic pollution crisis

Plastic recycling is an important part of the picture, but it is not enough to tackle the global plastic pollution crisis. Humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic, which surpasses the biomass of all animals, both on land and in the sea.

Despite the scale of the problem, the amount of plastic that is recycled is relatively small. In 2018, the global recycling rate for plastic was only 8.7%. In the United States, the world's biggest plastic polluter, only around 5% of plastic waste was recycled in 2021. This is despite the fact that 52% of recycling facilities in the U.S. accept plastic waste. Similarly, a 2017 report by the National Association for PET Container Resources found that only 21% of plastic bottles collected for recycling were turned into new products.

The problem is not just limited to the United States. A report by Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plastics found that about 85% of plastic ends up in landfills, with 10% incinerated. With plastic production set to triple globally by 2060, it is clear that we need to look beyond recycling to address the plastic pollution crisis.

While recycling is an important part of the solution, we need to focus on reducing plastic production and consumption, as well as exploring alternative materials and technologies. We also need to hold major plastic producers accountable for their promises to promote recycling and include more recycled plastic in their products. By addressing the problem from multiple angles, we can make a significant impact in reducing plastic pollution.

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