Ethan Clarke
Plastic is everywhere, and it's shocking how much we're all paying for it. Plastic recycling is critical to improving the environment and bettering waste management solutions, but it's not a perfect solution. The plastic industry has long perpetuated the myth that plastics are recyclable, but the reality is that most plastics aren't recyclable, and even those that are release huge amounts of microplastics and toxic chemicals into the environment. The economics of recycling also present a challenge, as collecting, sorting, transporting, and reprocessing plastic is expensive, and recycled plastic ends up costing more than new plastic. While interest in recycling is higher than ever, with the public increasingly concerned about plastic packaging waste, the rate of plastic packaging waste recycling has stagnated, indicating that new approaches are needed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic recycling rate | Less than 10% of plastic waste generated worldwide has ever been recycled |
| Plastic recycling in the US | 5-6% annually |
| Plastic recycling in the UK | N/A |
| Plastic recycling rate of PET | 20% |
| Plastic recycling centres | Bailing, transporting, collecting, sorting, and reprocessing |
| Plastic recycling methods | Mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, advanced recycling |
| Plastic types | Thermoset plastics, thermoplastics, bioplastics, composite plastic, plastic-coated wrapping paper, polycarbonate, cling film, blister packaging, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), PET, PP, HDPE, LDPE |
| Plastic recycling symbols | 7 |
| Plastic recycling codes | 1-7 |
| Plastic recycling barriers | Lack of awareness, economics, lack of infrastructure |
| Plastic decomposition time | 500-1000 years |
| Plastic alternatives | Reusable systems, non-plastic alternatives like packaging made from fungi, hemp, and other environmentally friendly materials |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic recycling: a costly process
Plastic recycling is a critical process to improve the environment and better waste management solutions. However, it is also a costly process, and many plastics are not recycled because they are not easily recyclable. The recycling process involves collecting, sorting, transporting, and reprocessing plastic, which is extremely expensive. The high costs associated with plastic recycling can be attributed to several factors.
Firstly, the collection of plastic waste can be challenging and costly. While kerbside collection schemes have been successful in recovering plastic bottle packaging from homes, only 30-40% of post-consumer plastic bottles are typically recovered as a large portion of plastic packaging comes from food and beverages consumed outside the home. Bring-schemes, where individuals bring their recyclables to a central location, often have low collection rates unless there are economic incentives in place.
Sorting plastic waste is another significant expense. Plastics must be sorted according to their resin type or colour, and the cost of separating different types of plastics can be high. This sorting process is necessary to recycle plastic effectively, but it adds to the overall cost of recycling.
Additionally, the recycling process itself can be costly, especially for certain types of plastics. Mechanical recycling, which involves washing, grinding, and melting plastic, is generally more cost-effective than chemical recycling, which breaks down plastic into monomers to form new polymers. However, even mechanical recycling requires significant investments in equipment and infrastructure. Chemical recycling technologies, such as feedstock recycling, are even more expensive and less energetically favourable as they require additional steps and energy to depolymerize and then repolymerize the plastic.
The economics of plastic recycling are further complicated by the low cost of manufacturing new plastics. The petrochemical and fossil fuel industries benefit from financial subsidies and expanding operations, driving down the cost of producing new plastics. As a result, recycled plastic often costs more than new plastics, making it challenging to justify the economic viability of recycling.
Furthermore, the lack of consistent and widespread recycling programs contributes to the costliness of plastic recycling. Many organizations and governments have zero-waste-to-landfill policies, but the infrastructure and systems to support efficient plastic recycling are still developing. The variety of plastic types and the complexity of their recyclability, as indicated by resin codes, also pose challenges to efficient and cost-effective recycling.
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Plastic waste: an environmental hazard
Plastic waste has emerged as a significant environmental hazard, with its non-biodegradable nature posing a threat to ecosystems and human health. Since the 1950s, human civilisation has generated 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic, with only about 9% being recycled and 12% incinerated. The remaining vast majority has infiltrated our natural environment, leading to detrimental consequences.
The issue of plastic waste is a pressing global concern. Annually, approximately 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste escape into aquatic ecosystems, polluting lakes, rivers, and seas. This pollution has far-reaching effects, altering habitats and natural processes, and reducing ecosystems' ability to adapt to climate change. It directly impacts the livelihoods, food production capabilities, and social well-being of millions of people. The environmental crisis extends beyond water bodies, as plastic waste also affects land and air.
The production, consumption, and disposal of plastic products have contributed to this crisis. The exponential increase in plastic production and consumption in recent years has outpaced our ability to manage and recycle this waste effectively. While recycling is often touted as a solution, it comes with its own set of challenges. Recycling facilities have been identified as potential contributors to toxic and hazardous waste, as they release chemicals and particulates during the recycling process, which can have unintended environmental and health costs.
Moreover, the breakdown of plastics into microplastics poses an ecosystem and health hazard. These microplastics can infiltrate water and air, causing harm to various organisms and humans. The Basel Convention Plastic Waste Amendments in 2019 aimed to address this issue by emphasising the toxicity of plastics and requiring countries to monitor the movement of plastics across borders. However, despite these efforts, plastic waste continues to be a pervasive problem.
To effectively tackle plastic waste, a systemic transformation is necessary. This includes implementing realistic policies, such as mandating plastic producers to declare all ingredients and warning consumers about potential health risks. Additionally, the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) must be prioritised at all stages to prevent landfill diversion and indiscriminate disposal. Improving plastic waste collection, treatment, and disposal methods is crucial for reducing global plastic litter and ocean pollution. By addressing these issues, we can move towards a more sustainable and circular economy, minimising the environmental and health risks associated with plastic waste.
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Plastic recycling: microplastics and toxic chemicals
Plastic recycling is critical to improving the environment and bettering waste management solutions. However, the process of recycling plastic can release large quantities of harmful microplastics into the environment. Research at a plastic recycling facility in the United Kingdom found that microplastics released in the wastewater amounted to 6% of all the plastic processed. This is concerning as microplastics have been found to have serious health impacts, including changes to human genetics, brain development, and reproduction. Additionally, recycled plastic has been found to contain toxic chemicals, including pesticides and pharmaceuticals, which present risks to recycling workers, consumers, and the environment.
The recycling process of conventional plastic is inefficient and unsustainable, whether done mechanically or chemically. Mechanical recycling remains the only commercial recycling process for plastic adopted on a large scale. However, one piece of plastic can typically be recycled only once or twice before it is no longer reusable. Another downside of mechanical recycling is quality degradation. Furthermore, the technological limitations of current recycling technology present a major stumbling block. For example, plastics that contain various chemical additives and colourants cannot be recycled together.
The economics of recycling also presents a challenge. Collecting, sorting, transporting, and reprocessing plastic is extremely expensive. Because of this, recycled plastic costs more than new plastics. Manufacturing new plastics only gets cheaper as the petrochemical and fossil fuel industries expand. Large companies and the petrochemical industry are promoting so-called advanced recycling and niche recycling programs, which are not real solutions. Advanced recycling, where high heat or chemicals break down plastic waste into fuels, chemicals, and intermediaries, has been a colossal failure, with only 1-14% of the plastic processed being used to manufacture new plastic.
While interest in recycling is higher than ever, the rate of plastic packaging waste recycling has stagnated over the past five years, implying that current strategies are insufficient and new approaches are required. Although recycling any material, where possible, is fundamental to the environment, not all plastic is widely recyclable. For example, crisp packets, salad bags, and plastic wrap are incredibly hard to recycle. The general rule of thumb is that the lower the resin code, the more likely the plastic type is to be easily recyclable.
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Plastic recycling rates: are they improving?
Plastic recycling rates are not improving. In fact, the recycling of plastic is on a decline, with a rate of just 5-6% for post-consumer plastic waste in the US in 2021. This is in contrast to the recycling rate of paper, which was at 66% in 2020. The total amount of plastics recycled in the US in 2018 was 3 million tons, which is a recycling rate of 8.7%.
The recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant. For example, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, and the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3% in the same year. However, it is important to note that PET bottles and jars only made up 21% of the plastic bottles collected for recycling that were turned into new products in 2017.
The problem of low plastic recycling rates is getting worse as more plastic is being produced, and an even smaller percentage of it is being recycled. This is due to a variety of reasons. Firstly, plastic is expensive to collect and sort, and there are thousands of different types of plastic that cannot be melted down together. Plastic also degrades after one or two uses, and it is toxic.
Another issue is that recycling plastic releases huge quantities of microplastics into the environment, which are spread through the air and wastewater. These microplastics contain toxic chemicals found in all plastics, which then leak out and attract other chemicals. In addition, the economics of recycling plastic are not favourable as it is extremely expensive to collect, sort, transport, and reprocess. As a result, recycled plastic costs more than new plastic, which is cheap and easy to produce.
Despite interest in recycling being higher than ever, the rate of plastic packaging waste recycling has stagnated over the past five years, indicating that current strategies are insufficient and new approaches are required.
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Plastic alternatives: the way forward?
Plastic is useful and everywhere. However, it is filling up landfills and recycling bins, and it can take hundreds of years to biodegrade, between 500-1000 years for some types. Recycling plastic is critical to improving the environment and bettering waste management solutions. While some plastics can be recycled, that isn’t necessarily a good thing. Plastic recycling can release huge quantities of microplastics. Research at a plastic recycling facility in the United Kingdom found that microplastics released in the wastewater amounted to 6% of all the plastic processed. As microplastics spread throughout the environment, the toxic chemicals found in all plastics leak out.
The economics of recycling is another problem. Collecting, sorting, transporting, and reprocessing plastic is extremely expensive. Because of this, recycled plastic costs more than new plastics. Manufacturing new plastics only gets cheaper as the petrochemical and fossil fuel industries push for massive expansions across the country.
To address these issues, there is a need to explore plastic alternatives. Bioplastics, for example, are biodegradable or compostable plastics made from natural substances instead of petroleum. However, most bioplastics don't break down in home composts, landfills, or loose in the environment. They require commercial composting facilities, which aren't always available. Another alternative is to use non-toxic glazed pottery and other fired ceramics for food storage and tableware. Paper is also better than plastic, although it can't be recycled infinitely because the fibres get shorter each time it's reused. Cardboard is fully compostable at home as long as it's not coated in plastic.
Some other eco-friendly substitutes for plastic include glass, metal, and unlined paper packaging. Reusable shopping bags can replace single-use plastic bags, and bringing your own containers when shopping in bulk bins can help reduce plastic waste. Switching to non-liquid soaps is another option, as liquid soaps, shampoos, and detergents have added to the plastic waste problem. Finally, when possible, opting for unpackaged items or choosing glass or metal packaging can help reduce plastic waste.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, plastic can be recycled, but it is not always widely or easily done. Only a select few types of plastic are collected and recycled from households.
Plastic can take hundreds of years to biodegrade, between 500-1000 years for some types. It is also expensive to collect, sort, transport, and reprocess.
Crisp packets, salad bags, plastic wrap, bioplastics, composite plastic, plastic-coated wrapping paper, and polycarbonate.
Non-plastic alternatives include packaging made from fungi, hemp, and other environmentally friendly materials. Steel is also the world's most recycled and recyclable material.
Recycling plastic can conserve limited natural resources and energy. It is also critical to improving the environment and bettering waste management solutions.
