Chloe Zhang
Plastic packaging is notoriously difficult to recycle. While in theory, many commonly used plastics can be recycled, in practice, it's a different story. For instance, flexible packaging like chip bags is made from layers of different types of plastic and is often lined with aluminum, making it nearly impossible to separate the layers and capture the desired resin. Even if they were separated, there is little market demand for this type of plastic. Plastic tubs are often made with a mix of plastic types, which can be difficult for recyclers to sell to companies that prefer a single type of plastic for manufacturing. The recycling system was developed to handle specific types of plastic, and when packaging is made from several different types, it becomes challenging to recycle. Scaling up established recycling technologies, developing new ones, and reducing the production of single-use plastics are all part of the solution to increase recycling rates.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Difficulty in recycling plastic | Plastic is cheap to make and profitable, but it is hard to recycle and only about 10% of the plastics that have ever been produced have been recycled once. |
| Plastic waste | 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 micro-waste | Plastic waste breaks apart to form microplastics, pieces smaller than 5mm in diameter, which have been found in the ocean, snow, rainfall, the air, and even in human blood, colons, lungs, veins, breast milk, placentas, and fetuses. |
| Plastic recycling standards | The lack of state or national-level standards makes recycling harder. |
| Plastic resin identification code | The numbers 1 through 7 inside a triangle of arrows are called a resin identification code, which helps recyclers identify the type of resin a plastic is made from. It does not necessarily mean the item is recyclable. |
| Plastic film labels | Plastic film labels are not recyclable and should be removed before placing the plastic item in the recycling bin. |
| Plastic bottle caps | Some sorting facilities want people to keep the caps on plastic bottles, while others want them removed. It depends on the equipment available at the local materials recovery facility (MRF). |
| Plastic recycling rules | Rules for recycling plastic include recycling bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard, keeping food and liquid out of recycling, and not including loose plastic bags or bagged recyclables. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic bags and thin plastics
However, plastic bags and thin plastics can be recycled at many large retailers, such as Walmart, Target, and Lowe's, which collect this material from consumers and back-haul it to businesses that recycle it into new products. This includes high-density polyethylene (HDPE or #2 plastic) and low-density polyethylene (#4 plastic or LDPE). The thin plastic used for products such as water bottles is likely #1 PETE and can be recycled with grocery, cereal, and sandwich bags, as well as shrink wrap.
It is important to ensure that any plastic bags or thin plastics being recycled are clean and dry, and free of stickers, staples, receipts, crumbs, and food residue, as these contaminants can affect the entire batch of recycling. It is also recommended to keep a bag collection bin in your house to store plastic bags for recycling, and to put all bags into one bag and tie it at the top, making it easier for recycling workers to collect.
While plastic bag recycling is possible, it is worth noting that plastic bags do not biodegrade, and it will take hundreds of years for them to decompose in a landfill. In addition, black plastic bags are harder to recycle due to the dye used, which limits reprocessing options. Therefore, the most eco-friendly alternative is to bring your own reusable bags to the store, although these take more resources to produce than paper or plastic bags.
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Plastic resin codes
The original RIC symbols consisted of arrows that cycle clockwise to form a triangle that encloses a number. The numbers 1 to 6 indicate that the plastic packaging is made from one of six specific types of plastic:
- Polyethylene terephthalate (such as PET plastic bottles)
- High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
- Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polystyrene
Number 7 means the packaging is made of a type of plastic other than the previous six, or is a mixture of plastics. This category includes things like bioplastics, composite plastics (like crisp wrappers), plastic-coated wrapping paper, and polycarbonate (which contains BPA).
It is important to note that the presence of a resin identification code on packaging does not guarantee that the packaging is recyclable. The RIC system was designed to identify the type of plastic resin used in a product, not its recyclability. However, with some foundational knowledge, the RIC can help consumers decipher if a product is recyclable and make more sustainable choices.
Despite the existence of the RIC system, plastic recycling remains challenging due to various factors. One of the main issues is the lack of standardised recycling practices across different regions, leading to consumer confusion about what can be recycled and how to recycle properly. Additionally, the economic feasibility of recycling certain plastics plays a role, as it is often cheaper to produce new plastic products than to recycle or reuse existing ones.
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Plastic foam
EPS foam can be recycled into general-purpose polystyrene to produce synthetic timber, coat hangers, and video cassette cases, among other products. However, it first needs to be compressed, which can be done by specialised recyclers. There are also companies that will reuse EPS foam as-is for packaging.
Polyethylene (PE) foam is also recyclable and can be melted down, reused, and remoulded. It is often used for packaging due to its good insulation properties and high resistance to chemicals and moisture.
Polyurethane (PU) foam can be ground and reprocessed to create new products, such as stronger and more durable insulation products, high-density panels, and building materials for insulation. It can also be recycled by recovering the energy in it, using it as a raw material to replace fossil fuels in incinerators, heating buildings, and other industrial processes.
While it is possible to recycle plastic foam, it is not always easy to find a recycler that accepts it. Ongoing advancements in recycling systems are likely to improve the efficiency of foam recycling, but for now, it is often more effective to reuse it for packaging or donate it to local shipping or packing companies.
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Plastic bottles and caps
Plastic bottles and their caps are made from different types of plastic, so it was standard procedure to recycle them separately. However, because of their small size, many plastic caps were lost during the recycling process. To address this issue, recyclers have developed a process called "sink float" to separate the different plastics so that both bottle and cap can be salvaged.
The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) now recommends that consumers "empty and replace the cap" on plastic bottles before recycling. This is because plastic caps can jam processing equipment at recycling facilities, and bottles with caps may not compact properly during the recycling process, posing a safety risk to workers. Additionally, flattening bottles can lead to improper sortation, with bottles sometimes ending up in the paper stream.
However, it's important to note that not all recycling programs accept plastic caps and lids, and those that do usually require them to be off the containers and batched separately. If your local recycling program doesn't accept plastic caps, you should remove them before recycling the bottles. You can check with your local Public Works or Department of Sanitation to find out if plastic caps are recyclable in your area.
To ensure that caps don't pop off during the recycling process, it's recommended to squeeze a little air out of the bottle before putting the cap back on. This also helps reduce the space taken up by the bottle.
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Plastic recycling technologies
Plastic recycling is a complex process, with many types of plastics being non-recyclable. However, some companies are making efforts to improve the recyclability of their products. For example, Coca-Cola switched from using green bottles to clear plastic bottles for its Sprite drink in North America. This change was made to aid the recycling of its bottles back into bottles, rather than into other products that are harder to recycle.
There are several advanced plastic recycling technologies that have emerged to increase the value of recycling and reduce the need for sorting. These technologies include pyrolysis, depolymerization, and solvent dissolution. Pyrolysis is a thermal process that decomposes plastic's chemical chains into various lengths of hydrocarbons, which can then be refined into plastic or fuel. It is expected to dominate advanced recycling for the next decade, despite being energy-inefficient. Solvent dissolution involves applying specific chemical solvents to plastic waste to extract targeted polymers and remove contaminants. This technology is particularly useful for recycling packaging plastics. Depolymerization is a process used by the company Jeplan to recycle PET from plastic bottles and textiles.
Another approach to plastic recycling is to break down plastic molecules into their individual subunits, which can then be reassembled into polymers. This method can help recycle thermosets, a class of polymers that cannot be melted down and mechanically recycled. Chemical recycling also opens up the possibility of upcycling, where chemical products more valuable than plastics are created.
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Frequently asked questions
Hard plastics, such as those used in water bottles, food containers, and toys, are typically made from materials like PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) or HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene). While hard plastics are generally more widely accepted by recycling facilities, it is important to check the number inside the chasing arrows insignia as not all types of plastic can be recycled.
To determine whether your plastic is hard or soft, you can perform the scrunch test. Pick up the plastic item and try to scrunch or bend it with your hands. If it is hard plastic, it will resist bending or scrunching. If it is soft plastic, it will easily scrunch or bend under pressure. You can also check the plastic resin code, which is usually a number between 1 and 7 found inside a triangle on the bottom of the item. Familiarize yourself with the different plastics and their respective recyclability.
Plastic is cheap to make and profitable, and there are thousands of different types of plastic, each requiring a unique set of chemicals for production. The most common recycling process, mechanical recycling, is labor-intensive and expensive, causing most companies to opt for using virgin plastic instead. Additionally, recycled plastic pellets are of lower quality, so they are often mixed with virgin plastic or downcycled into different products, which will eventually end up in landfills.
It is important to recycle correctly and understand the difference between hard and soft plastics. Check the recycling symbols and numbers on plastic items to determine their recyclability. Also, support companies that are trying to make plastics more sustainable and adopt refill and reuse schemes.
