Maya Ellison
Plastic is everywhere, and we're all paying the price. Plastic recycling is a challenging and complex process, and despite our best efforts, only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled, with a staggering 19% incinerated. The reality is that most plastic items collected for recycling are not actually recycled, and the plastic that is recycled is often shipped overseas to low- and middle-income countries, where formal recycling programs are rare. The process of recycling plastic involves sorting, cleaning, shredding, melting, and forming the plastic into pellets, which are then sold to producers of recycled plastic products. However, the presence of different types of plastic can contaminate and degrade the quality of the batch, making the process even more challenging and expensive. With the production of plastic projected to grow by about 5% annually, it is crucial to address the plastic waste crisis through initiatives like circularity, which involves reusing, recycling, and employing alternatives.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic recycling process | Collection, cleaning, sorting, shredding, melting, forming pellets, and moulding into new products |
| Plastic recycling facilities | Material Recovery Facilities (MRF), Plastic Recovery Facilities (PRF) |
| Plastic sorting methods | Manual picking, trommels, sink-float separators, optical sorting machines, magnets |
| Plastic recycling challenges | Different types of plastic, contamination, cost, quality degradation, environmental impact |
| Plastic waste destinations | Landfills, incineration, recycling, overseas shipment |
| Plastic waste impact | Environmental pollution, health risks, climate change, microplastics |
| Plastic recycling solutions | Circular economy, scaling recycling technologies, alternatives, policy changes |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic is rarely recycled, often dumped or burned
Plastic is a highly versatile material that we use a lot of. However, only about one-tenth of all the plastic ever produced has been recycled, and only about 1% has been recycled twice. The rest has ended up in landfills, been incinerated, or dumped into the ocean.
There are several reasons why plastic is rarely recycled. Firstly, the process is expensive and complicated, and the resulting product is often of lower quality than the original. It is cheaper to produce new plastic than to collect, reuse, refill, or recycle it. The recycling process is also energy-intensive and becomes more costly as additional steps, such as washing, are added. In countries with high electricity prices, it is often more profitable to incinerate plastic than to recycle it.
Another reason for the low recycling rate is the lack of capacity to recycle various plastics. The technology exists to recycle a wide range of plastics, but the infrastructure to do so is lacking. For example, only about 21% of the plastic used in water and soft drink bottles can be recycled, and even less for other types of plastic.
Furthermore, not all plastics are recyclable. While about 75% of global plastics produced are thermoplastics that can be melted and molded into new products, the remaining 25% are thermoset plastics that do not soften when exposed to heat, making them nearly impossible to recycle.
The issue of plastic waste is a global one, with an estimated two billion people lacking access to regular waste management services. Plastic waste is pervasive in low- and middle-income countries, where formal recycling programs are rare. Historically, an enormous amount of plastic waste has been shipped from the Global North to the Global South, with much of it being illegally dumped or burned, posing significant health and environmental risks to the surrounding communities.
To address the plastic waste crisis, multiple actions are needed, including scaling up established recycling technologies, developing new technologies to handle hard-to-recycle plastics, and reducing the production of single-use plastics.
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Plastic is cheap to make, but recycling is expensive
Plastic is a highly versatile material that has become an integral part of our daily lives. However, the reality is that most plastic items collected for recycling are not actually recycled. This is because recycling plastic is a complicated, labor-intensive, and expensive process.
Firstly, collecting, sorting, and separating plastic waste is a significant challenge. Plastic waste often contains a mix of different types of plastic, which cannot be combined in the manufacturing of recycled products. For example, very small amounts of PVC can significantly degrade PET. As a result, sorting and separating recyclable materials is not only labor-intensive but also costly.
Secondly, the recycling process itself is energy-intensive and involves multiple steps. Plastic waste must be washed, chopped or shredded into smaller pieces, melted, filtered for impurities, formed into strands, cooled, and finally chopped into pellets that can be sold to manufacturers. Each step in this process incurs energy and operational costs.
Additionally, the quality of the recycled plastic is often lower than that of virgin plastic. Recycled plastic degrades with each reuse, limiting the number of times it can be reused. This degradation affects the functionality and potential applications of the recycled material.
On the other hand, new plastic is cheap to produce. Virgin plastic is made from raw materials such as petroleum and natural gas, which are currently underpriced. The production of new plastic bottles, for instance, contributes to the profits of oil and plastic companies, who have been accused of misleading the public about the feasibility of recycling plastic on a large scale.
Despite the challenges and expenses associated with plastic recycling, there are ongoing investments and technological advancements aimed at improving the process. Some companies are also working to reduce their use of plastic and incorporate more recycled materials into their products. While recycling plastic may be expensive, it is crucial to recognize the environmental benefits of reducing our reliance on virgin plastic and encouraging the reuse and recycling of plastic materials.
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Plastic is toxic when burned, causing health issues
Plastic is a popular and versatile material, but it is not designed to be recycled. Plastic recycling is a complicated, expensive, and inefficient process, and as a result, most plastic items collected as recycling are not actually recycled. Instead, they are shipped overseas, dumped in landfills, or burned. Burning plastic is a major problem, as it releases toxic chemicals and gases that are harmful to both human health and the environment.
Burning plastic can generate and release pollutants like microplastics, bisphenols, and phthalates, which are toxins that can disrupt neurodevelopment, endocrine, and reproductive functions. It also releases polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which are potent carcinogens and toxins that can accumulate in the body over time. The smoke and carbon monoxide released from burning plastic are also toxic and can cause respiratory illnesses and other serious diseases.
In many places, burning plastic is a common method of waste disposal, especially in areas with limited access to solid waste collection services. For example, in Guatemala, 71% of households burn waste as their primary means of disposal. Open-burning of plastic waste is also prevalent in the waste trade, where waste haulers illegally dump and burn plastics, exposing people living near these dumping sites to major health risks.
The toxic ash produced from burning plastic is often landfilled or used as aggregate in building materials, further contributing to environmental pollution and increasing the risk of cancer, respiratory illnesses, and other serious diseases for people living nearby. Additionally, the air pollution caused by burning plastic can travel long distances and accumulate in the food chain, particularly in fish, further impacting human health.
To address the issues associated with burning plastic, it is important to focus on reducing plastic use, reusing and repurposing plastic materials, and improving recycling practices. By finding alternatives to burning plastic and improving waste management systems, we can reduce the negative health and environmental impacts caused by plastic pollution.
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Plastic is sorted, shredded, melted, and formed into pellets
Plastic recycling is a multi-step process. Firstly, the plastic waste must be sorted. Sorting is usually done automatically, but a manual sort ensures all contaminants have been removed. After sorting, the plastic is sold to a facility where it is shredded. The plastic is shovelled onto a conveyor belt and carried to a large shredding machine that breaks the plastic into small, centimetre-sized pieces. Plastic bags are also shredded into smaller pieces. The smaller the size of the shredded plastic, the more regular its shape, leading to wider market demand and a higher price.
Following the shredding process, the plastic shreds are washed to remove food particles or chemical residue. The next step involves heating, melting, and reforming the shredded plastic into small, lentil-sized pellets, in a process known as extrusion. The plastic is dried, and metal impurities are removed by passing the material in front of a magnet. The dried plastic shreds are then melted at temperatures ranging from 200 to 275°C.
The melted plastic is then cooled and formed into pellets. The extruded material is solidified using a water bath. The final product of plastic pellets is more uniform in size, increasing the efficiency of the product manufacturing process. These pellets can then be used to make new plastic products.
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Plastic circularity is promising, but not yet implemented
Plastic circularity is a promising concept that aims to keep plastic in the economy and out of the environment. It involves using plastics more efficiently by extending their useful lives, maximising their value during use, and recovering them to create new products. This approach can help reduce the amount of plastic waste and keep it from polluting our environment. However, despite the growing momentum and efforts towards plastic circularity, it has not yet been fully implemented.
One of the main challenges to achieving plastic circularity is the complexity and cost of recycling plastic. Plastic is not inherently designed to be recycled, and the process of collecting, sorting, cleaning, and reprocessing it can be expensive and time-consuming. Additionally, recycled plastic often results in a lower-quality product, making it less desirable for manufacturers. These factors contribute to the limited adoption of plastic recycling practices.
Another issue is the global waste trade, where plastic waste is shipped from developed countries to developing ones. This trade has led to illegal dumping and open burning of plastics, causing significant environmental degradation and exposing communities near dumping sites to major health risks. The waste pickers who process this waste often face hazardous working conditions and earn meagre incomes. Despite their crucial role in the waste management chain, they are often excluded from policy discussions and decisions.
To fully realise plastic circularity, a comprehensive approach is necessary. This includes redesigning plastic products for longer use, reusability, and recyclability. It also entails investing in recycling technologies to increase the types and amounts of plastic that can be recycled. Additionally, collaboration across sectors, including public, private, and civil society, is vital to create sustainable solutions tailored to specific community needs.
While the concept of plastic circularity is promising, it requires a collective effort and systemic changes to be successfully implemented. This includes improving recycling infrastructure, encouraging product redesign, and fostering global partnerships to address plastic pollution. By working together, we can create a more sustainable future where plastic is managed effectively and responsibly.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic waste is collected from homes, businesses, and recycling centers and sent to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and/or Plastic Recovery Facilities (PRFs). The plastic is then sorted, shredded, and melted down to form pellets, which are sold to producers of recycled plastic products.
There are two advanced types of plastic recycling: mechanical recycling and chemical recycling. Mechanical recycling involves collecting, cleaning, sorting, shredding, and melting down plastic waste to form pellets. Chemical recycling breaks down plastic molecules into individual subunits, which can then be reassembled into polymers.
Recycling plastic can help reduce our need to create new plastic, which is cheap to make and shockingly profitable. Plastic production has grown dramatically in recent years, and plastic pollution affects those least able to deal with its consequences.
Plastic recycling is a complex and expensive process, and the resulting product is often of lower quality than the original plastic. There are many different types of plastic, and they do not mix well when melted down, so the plastic must be carefully sorted first.
Alternatives to plastic recycling include reusing or employing materials that can be reused or recycled. Ghana and several other countries are working to establish a country-level circular economy for plastic by banning single-use plastics and implementing robust collection, reuse, and recycling efforts.
