Philadelphia's Plastic Recycling Efforts: How Much Is Enough?

Philadelphia's recycling system has been broken for a long time. In 2007, the city implemented a single-stream recycling system, which increased participation and efficiency but also led to an increase in contaminated materials. The current recycling rate is 13%, still below pre-pandemic levels, and it is estimated that only 5% of plastics are actually recycled. The pandemic further exposed the issues in the city's recycling system, with many residents witnessing trash and recycling mixed together. China's National Sword policy, which banned the importation of plastics and other materials in 2019, also significantly impacted the market dynamics for recycling in Philadelphia. The city's recycling operator now charges $170 a ton for processing recyclables, up from $67.35 a ton previously. While Philadelphia has pledged to continue recycling, it is clear that the current system is not working.

Philadelphia's plastic recycling rate is low

The pandemic exacerbated existing issues in Philadelphia's recycling system. In January 2019, China, a major destination for US plastics, banned the importation of plastics and other materials. This significantly shifted the market dynamics for recycling in the US. Philadelphia's contract with its recycling operator expired, and the new contract would have increased the cost of processing recyclables from $67.35 a ton to $170 a ton. As a result, the city sent half of its recyclables to a waste-to-energy plant to be burned.

Even before the pandemic, Philadelphia's plastic recycling rate was low. According to PBS Frontline, only about 9% of the plastic produced in Philadelphia was recycled before 2018. The city's single-stream recycling system, implemented in 2007, increased participation and efficiency but also led to an increase in contaminated materials. Many residents place food waste, plastic bags, styrofoam, and other non-recyclable materials in with recyclables, causing the entire load to go to the landfill.

The city's current waste management system is run by vertically integrated companies that own landfills and incinerators. These companies profit by collecting large volumes of material and finding the cheapest place to send it, rather than by finding real value for the material. Additionally, the low value and high contamination rate of some plastics make them difficult to recycle. It is often cheaper to produce new plastic from fossil fuels than to recycle old plastic.

Philadelphia's Sanitation Division is working to educate residents about what can and cannot be recycled to reduce contamination in the city's recycling stream. However, the city's recycling rate remains low, and many issues persist with the current system.

Plastic contamination in recycling loads

Philadelphia's recycling system has been broken for a long time, with a recycling rate of 13%, far below the national rate of 32%. The city's implementation of a single-stream recycling system in 2007, where all recyclables are thrown into the same bin, has led to an increase in the amount of contaminated materials in the municipal recycling stream. This includes food waste, plastic bags, styrofoam, and other non-recyclable materials, resulting in entire loads being sent to landfills.

The issue of contaminated recycling loads is not unique to Philadelphia. Plastic recycling is crucial for saving fossil resources and closing material loops, but plastic can be contaminated during waste management and use, with potentially harmful substances being recycled along with the targeted polymers. For example, household plastic samples have been found to contain elevated concentrations of metals such as Al, Pb, Ti, and Zn when compared to virgin samples.

In the case of Philadelphia, the collection of glass with paper and food packaging with food waste leads to crushed glass and paper contaminated with residual liquids and food, rendering them unrecyclable. The city's failure to educate residents on what can and cannot be recycled has contributed to the problem, with many residents unsure of what to do with items like plastic bags, greasy pizza boxes, and styrofoam.

The pandemic further exposed the cracks in the city's recycling system, with short staffing in the Sanitation Department leading to trash and recycling being combined and sent to landfills. Additionally, China's National Sword policy, which banned the importation of plastics in 2019, significantly impacted the market dynamics for recycling in the US, with Philadelphia struggling to find affordable recycling options.

To address the issue of contaminated recycling loads, Philadelphia's Sanitation Division has launched educational campaigns to remind residents of what should be kept out of their recycling bins. However, it is clear that systemic changes are needed, with a focus on creating a mutually beneficial relationship between producers and consumers, where single materials are efficiently used and recycled rather than ending up in catch-all bins.

Plastic bags are not recycled

Philadelphia's recycling system is broken and has been for a long time. The city's recycling rate is abysmal, at 13%, which is still below pre-pandemic levels and lags behind other cities. The national rate is 32%. The pandemic broke what was already a damaged system. China, which was a major destination for US plastics, banned their importation in 2019. This significantly shifted the market dynamics for recycling in the US.

The best approach to plastic bags is to reduce or avoid their use entirely. Bring reusable bags when shopping to minimize the need for plastic ones. Many grocery stores and retailers have collection bins specifically for plastic bags, ensuring proper management and disposal. Before discarding a plastic bag, consider reusing it. They can be used as trash can liners, carriers, or even packing material. Upcycling is another option, where plastic bags can be used for craft projects, weaving, or even as durable outdoor cushions.

Philadelphia's recycling issues are not limited to plastic bags. The city's single-stream recycling system, implemented in 2007, has increased participation and efficiency. However, it has also led to an increase in contaminated materials, including food waste, plastic bags, and styrofoam, which cannot be recycled. The city is working to educate residents about proper recycling practices to reduce contamination in the recycling stream.

Plastic recycling market conditions

Philadelphia's recycling system is broken, with a recycling rate of just 13%, far below the national rate of 32%. The pandemic exacerbated the issues with the city's recycling system, but these problems were well-known to residents and advocates before COVID-19.

One of the main issues is the contamination of recycling loads, where residents place non-recyclable materials such as food waste, plastic bags, and styrofoam in with recyclables, leading to entire loads being sent to landfills. To be effective, the contamination rate needs to be under 0.5%. The city is working to educate residents about what can and can't be recycled through radio and TV ads, slogans, and flyers.

Another issue is the market conditions for recycling. Previously, most of Philadelphia's recycling was sent to China, but in 2019, China banned the importation of plastics and other materials, significantly shifting the market dynamics for recycling in the US. Philadelphia's current recycling operator charges the city $170 a ton for processing recyclables, up from $67.35 a ton previously. The low price of "virgin" plastic, made from fossil fuels, means that it is often cheaper to produce new plastic than to recycle old plastic.

The city's single-stream recycling system, implemented in 2007, has also contributed to the issues. While it increased participation and efficiency, it also led to an increase in contaminated materials and materials that cannot be recycled. Philadelphia's recycling system can only truly recycle #1 and #2 plastics, with many other plastics marked as recyclable when they are not.

Despite these challenges, there are some signs of improvement. The city is working to educate residents about proper recycling practices, and there is a growing demand for recycled plastics in certain industries, such as outdoor decking. The US domestic recycling industry is also building more infrastructure, although this takes time.

Plastic recycling infrastructure

Philadelphia's plastic recycling infrastructure has faced several challenges and has been described as "broken" and "abysmal". The city's recycling rate is currently 13%, well below the national rate of 32%.

One of the main issues is the contamination of recycling loads, where residents place non-recyclable materials such as food waste, plastic bags, and styrofoam in with recyclable items. To be effective, the contamination rate needs to be under 0.5%, but the city's contamination level is still very high. This leads to loads being sent to landfills instead of being recycled. The city has implemented educational campaigns to try to reduce contamination, but the problem persists.

Another challenge is the single-stream recycling system, where all recyclable materials are thrown into the same bin without sorting. While this increased participation and efficiency, it also led to a higher amount of contaminated materials and materials that couldn't be recycled. The plastics industry often marks materials as recyclable when they are not, and the single-stream system makes it difficult to separate and sort materials effectively.

The city's recycling infrastructure was also impacted by China's National Sword policy in 2019, which banned the importation of plastics and other materials. This significantly shifted the market dynamics for recycling in the US, as China was a major destination for US plastics. The cost of processing recyclables increased, and the city struggled to find affordable recycling options.

Philadelphia's current recycling system is run by waste management companies that own landfills and incinerators. These companies profit from collecting large volumes of material and sending it to the cheapest location possible, rather than finding ways to reuse or recycle it. This creates a conflict of interest and disincentivizes the development of effective recycling infrastructure.

However, there are some signs of improvement. The city is working to educate residents about proper recycling practices, and there is a growing demand for recycled plastics in certain industries. The US domestic recycling industry is also building more infrastructure, although it will take time.

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