The Dark Truth Of Unrecycled Plastics

Plastic recycling is a critical part of building a more sustainable world, but it's not enough to tackle the plastic waste crisis. According to studies, 91% of plastic isn't recycled globally, with only 9% of plastic waste being recycled. The remaining plastic waste ends up in landfills, incinerators, or the natural environment, including our oceans, posing a significant threat to marine life. The challenges of plastic recycling include the material properties of plastics, contamination, the cost of recycling compared to producing new plastic, and the lack of infrastructure and behavior changes needed for effective recycling and waste management systems.

Plastic waste is a major environmental challenge

The low recycling rate of plastic waste is due to various factors. Firstly, not all plastics can be recycled due to their material properties. While 75% of global plastics are thermoplastics that can be melted and molded, the remaining 25% are thermoset plastics that are challenging to recycle. Additionally, plastic packaging is produced from incompatible grades of plastic, making sorting for recycling costly and inefficient. The high cost of recycling, coupled with the cheap production of new plastic, makes recycled plastic less economically competitive.

Another issue is the contamination of recyclable plastic. Plastic with food residues or other impurities often cannot be recycled and ends up in landfills or incinerators. Recycling facilities may lack the capacity or infrastructure to handle contaminated plastics, contributing to the waste. Furthermore, the variety of plastic types and the lack of standardized recyclability guidelines further complicate the recycling process.

To address the plastic waste challenge, a multifaceted approach is necessary. This includes rethinking plastic chemistry, product design, and consumer use. Strategies such as extended producer responsibility (EPR) plans can help fund and support waste management programs, while refill and reuse schemes can reduce the demand for new plastic products. Additionally, the development of new recycling techniques, such as using enzymes or microbes to break down plastics, shows potential for more effective recycling processes.

While recycling is an important part of the solution, it is not the only answer. Reducing plastic consumption, promoting reusable alternatives, and advocating for better waste management systems are also crucial. By combining these strategies, we can work towards building a more sustainable world and mitigating the environmental impact of plastic waste.

Plastic packaging accounts for more than 40% of non-fibre plastic

Plastic is one of the most rapidly growing man-made materials, with production doubling approximately every 15 years. This acceleration has resulted in 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic being produced, 6.3 billion metric tons of which has become waste. Unfortunately, only about 9% of this plastic waste is recycled, with the vast majority (79%) accumulating in landfills or ending up in the natural environment as litter.

The complexity of plastics and the challenges associated with their disposal contribute to the low recycling rates. While about 75% of global plastics produced are thermoplastics that can be recycled, the remaining 25% are thermoset plastics that are difficult to recycle due to their heat-resistant properties. Additionally, not all thermoplastics are properly recycled, as they require specific conditions to be recyclable, such as being clean and free of food residue.

Plastic packaging plays a significant role in the plastic waste crisis, accounting for more than 40% of non-fibre plastic. This is due to the increased use of plastic packaging, which has contributed to the rapid growth of plastic production. Packaging waste varies across regions, with the United States at 37%, Europe at 38%, and China at 45%. These three regions alone contribute to 60% of global packaging waste generation.

To address the plastic waste crisis, comprehensive solutions are necessary. This includes rethinking plastic chemistry, product design, and consumer behaviour. Additionally, extended producer responsibility (EPR) plans are being considered, which would require producers of plastic packaging to provide funding for the management of their products after their initial use. Other innovative approaches, such as refill and reuse schemes, can also help reduce plastic waste.

Plastic with food residues usually can't be recycled

Plastic is a household staple for families and communities worldwide. However, the vast majority of plastic—79 percent—is accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter. Only nine percent of plastic waste has been recycled, with a larger portion (12 percent) incinerated. The remaining plastic ends up in our oceans.

Plastic with food residues usually cannot be recycled. Only good-quality, clean plastics can go through the recycling process. When small traces of food residue are mixed in with recycled materials, it doesn't cause too many problems. However, heavily stained containers will be rejected by recycling facilities. So, if a container is covered in food or grease, you must clean it before recycling.

It is important to note that recycling is an energy-intensive process that becomes more costly as additional steps such as post-consumer selection and washing are added. The new plastic is still relatively cheap to produce and creates a competitive environment in which added costs to the process make recycled plastic significantly more expensive. Furthermore, in countries where the price of electricity is high, it might be more profitable to incinerate instead of recycle.

While most plastic containers can be recycled either curbside or at a specialist recycling center, certain types of packaging cannot be recycled at all. For example, Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene (EPS), is not widely recyclable. The material is lightweight and bulky, making it especially difficult to recycle.

To determine if a container is recyclable, look for symbols on the plastic container that resemble the recycling arrows (called a 'Mobius loop') with a number inside to indicate the container's resin type. Always refer to local authority guidelines when dealing with specific plastics.

The US is the world's biggest plastic polluter

Plastic pollution is an environmental and social crisis. It impacts communities, pollutes rivers, lakes, and beaches, endangers wildlife, and contaminates water sources. According to a report submitted to the federal government, the United States is the world's biggest plastic polluter, generating about 42 million metric tons of plastic waste a year. This amount is more than all European Union member countries combined and is more than twice as much as China, the second-highest contributor. The US generated an average of 130 kilograms of plastic waste per person per year, with Britain a distant second at 99 kilograms per person per year.

The US urgently needs a new strategy to address the plastic waste crisis, as the current rate of plastic pollution is harming ecosystems and bringing harmful pollution into the food chain. The proposed Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act would be the most ambitious regulation the US plastics industry has ever seen. The US used to outsource its waste problem by shipping plastics to China, but these imports were halted.

The US's plastic waste problem is a result of the rapid acceleration of plastic manufacturing, which has doubled roughly every 15 years. This acceleration has outpaced nearly every other man-made material. Additionally, the advent of cheap, versatile plastics has created a global-scale deluge of plastic waste. Plastic packaging accounts for more than 40% of non-fiber plastic, and half of all plastic manufactured becomes trash within a year.

To address the plastic waste crisis, the US needs to develop a national strategy that includes slashing plastic production, promoting alternative materials that can be reused, and setting better standards for waste collection and capture. Data collection is also critical, and the US should establish tracking and monitoring systems to identify waste sources and hotspots. Recycling is an important part of the solution, but it is not enough on its own, as only 9% of plastic waste is recycled globally.

Recycling is not economical

While recycling is an important part of efforts to reduce waste and conserve resources, it is not a perfect solution. One of the primary drawbacks of recycling is the cost. Recycling programs can be expensive to implement and maintain. This is due in part to the need for specialized equipment and infrastructure to collect, sort, and process recyclable materials. The process of recycling can also be energy-intensive and become more costly as additional steps such as post-consumer selection and washing are added. The value of recycled materials is often lower than the cost of producing new materials, which can make it difficult for recycling programs to be financially sustainable.

In addition, the effectiveness of recycling is limited by contamination. When non-recyclable materials are mixed in with recyclables, it can render the entire batch unusable. This can be a major problem in areas where recycling is not mandatory, as many people may not know what can and cannot be recycled. According to a report by the National Waste & Recycling Association, contamination rates in single-stream recycling programs can be as high as 25 percent. Furthermore, recycling certain materials, such as paper and plastic, can release harmful chemicals and pollutants into the environment, contributing to water and air pollution.

The economics of recycling can also be challenging due to the market for recycled materials. For example, the U.S. recycling industry was heavily dependent on the Chinese market for plastic and other recyclables. When that market disappeared, U.S. processing facilities and municipalities had to pay more to recycle or simply discard the waste. The lack of a dedicated investment in recycling infrastructure has made it difficult for recycling to be economically feasible, especially when compared to cheaper alternatives like landfilling.

While recycling is not a cure-all, it is still an important part of the solution to the global plastic pollution crisis. However, to make recycling more effective, it is crucial to focus on reducing contamination, improving infrastructure, and exploring other waste reduction strategies such as reducing waste, composting, and upcycling.

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