Chloe Zhang
After plastic is picked up for recycling, it is brought to a waste-sorting facility, also known as a materials recovery facility (MRF). Here, plastics are sorted by type and baled into compact cubes. These cubes are then sold to manufacturers, who recycle the plastic into new products. However, it is important to note that not all plastic that is sent for recycling is actually recycled. Some of it is down-cycled, while a significant portion ends up in landfills or is burned, contributing to plastic pollution and emissions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of plastic waste generated in the US in 2018 | 35 million tons |
| Percentage of plastic waste recycled in the US in 2018 | 8.7% |
| Amount of plastic waste generated in the US in 2020 | 35 million metric tons |
| Amount of plastic waste recycled in the US in 2020 | 2.5 million metric tons |
| Amount of plastic produced globally per year | 400 million metric tons |
| Amount of plastic used by each person in the US annually | 286 pounds |
| Percentage of plastic waste ever made that has been recycled | 9% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that ends up in landfills | 79% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that is burned | 12% |
| Percentage of plastic recycled in Germany | 56% |
| Percentage of plastic recycled in India | 60% |
| Types of plastic that are more recyclable | PET and HDPE |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic is sorted and cleaned at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
- It's then transported to the next stage of the recycling process
- Most plastic is not recycled and ends up in landfills or is burned
- Some countries have efficient recycling systems, for example, Germany and India
- Chemical recycling turns problem plastics into oil or gas
Plastic is sorted and cleaned at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs)
Once plastic is sent to be recycled, it is transported to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) via rail or truck. Here, the plastic is sorted and cleaned.
MRFs are specialised waste-sorting and recycling systems that receive, separate, clean, and prepare recyclable materials for marketing to end-user manufacturers. There are over 300 MRFs in the United States, with a market size of $6.6 billion as of 2019.
At the MRF, plastic is sorted by type (e.g., bags, films, bottles, foams) and separated by polymer type using methods such as disk screens and infrared technology. The latter involves using infrared light, which reflects differently off various polymer types, to identify the plastic, after which a jet of air shoots the plastic into the correct bin.
MRFs may also use human workers or industrial robots for pre-sorting and quality control. Humans are particularly adept at removing contaminants from the material stream, a task that is challenging for robots due to the complex movements required.
After sorting, the plastic is cleaned and shredded to create raw materials for manufacturing new products such as bottles and polyester. The recyclables are then transported to manufacturers, who use them to create new products.
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It's then transported to the next stage of the recycling process
Once plastic is collected from your recycling bin, it is transported to waste-sorting facilities, also known as Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). Here, plastics are sorted by type and baled (squashed together into easily transportable cubes). Optical scanners and magnets are often used to separate different types of plastics and metals. Sorting the plastics correctly is essential, as even small amounts of contaminants can disrupt the recycling process.
After sorting, the plastics are cleaned to remove contaminants such as labels, adhesives, and food residues. This cleaning process often uses water and specialized machinery. However, it has raised concerns about water and energy usage. Despite these efforts, the reality is that most plastic items collected for recycling are not actually recycled. Plastic is not designed to be recycled, and with each use, it becomes more contaminated and less useful.
The next stage of the recycling process involves turning the plastic into something new. For example, at Recycling Technologies in Swindon, plastic is fed into a towering steel cracking chamber, where it is separated at extremely high temperatures into gas and an oil called plaxx, which can be used as fuel or feedstock for new plastic. Chemical recycling, which turns problem plastics into oil or gas through industrial processes, offers another promising solution.
Unfortunately, the ability to recycle plastic significantly lags behind the rate at which it is produced. Globally, only about 9% of all plastic waste has ever been recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills or contributing to emissions through incineration. The transportation of plastic also contributes to pollution, as it can easily escape and enter the environment during transit.
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Most plastic is not recycled and ends up in landfills or is burned
Plastic is everywhere, and it is shockingly profitable. It is also cheap to make, which is why plastic production is ramping up. However, most plastic is not recycled and ends up in landfills or is burned.
A 2022 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found that 72% of plastic ends up in landfills or the environment. Similarly, a 2020 study published in Nature found that humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic, which surpasses the biomass of all animals, both on land and in the sea. Of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic that has been produced, only 9% has been recycled. The vast majority (79%) is accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter.
A Greenpeace report found that most plastic ends up in landfills. While 52% of recycling facilities in the US accept plastic cups and containers, less than 5% of this plastic is actually repurposed. The National Association for PET Container Resources found that only 21% of the plastic bottles collected for recycling were turned into new things.
Even when recycled, plastics are still dangerous. They release chemicals, climate-warming emissions, and tiny microplastics into our bodies and the environment. Plastic waste also enters the environment during transportation and begins to break apart into plastic particles that enter our bodies when we eat, drink, and breathe.
In some places, there are efforts to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills. For example, in Tanzania, a group called Nipe Fagio ("give me the broom" in Swahili) runs waste management and recycling systems that have reduced landfill waste by 75% to 80% in several cities. Waste collectors visit households once a week to gather trash, which is then sorted at a collection center. Recyclable materials are sorted for sale, organic waste is turned into compost and chicken feed, and the rest is sent to the landfill.
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Some countries have efficient recycling systems, for example, Germany and India
Once plastic is sent to be recycled, it is first sent to waste-sorting facilities, also called materials recovery facilities (MRFs). Here, plastics are sorted by type and baled. Then, the plastic is transported to the next leg of its journey. However, the transportation of plastic contributes to plastic pollution as it easily escapes and enters the environment.
Some countries, like Germany, have efficient recycling systems in place. Germany has been named the world recycling champion and its Green Dot System for the collection of packaging waste has been adopted by 29 European countries, as well as Israel and Turkey. Germany has a robust recycling culture, with separate bins for different waste streams: paper, biodegradables, plastic, and generic waste. Germany has also implemented a Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) for bottles, which has achieved a 98.4% return rate. However, despite these successes, Germany is one of Europe's biggest producers of packaging waste, especially plastics, and the actual amount of plastic packaging waste recycled is lower than officially reported.
India, on the other hand, struggles with plastic waste management due to limited infrastructure. While India recycles 60% of its total waste generated, much of the recycling is done inefficiently in the informal sector. India's official waste collection rate is 95%, but studies indicate that this number is closer to 81% in practice. The country faces challenges such as weak enforcement of regulations, lack of affordable alternatives, and data discrepancies. However, India is making efforts to improve its plastic waste management, with the 2016 Plastic Waste Management Rules aiming to phase out multi-layered plastic and promote recycling. Additionally, India is exploring the use of technology, such as multi-sensor-based AI and blockchain technology, to enhance the segregation and recycling of plastic waste.
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Chemical recycling turns problem plastics into oil or gas
After you send plastic for recycling, it is transferred into the hands of the global waste industry, which is made up of a network of businesses, governments, and individuals vying for a share of the nearly $1,300 billion that is generated annually in the global waste market. Unfortunately, most plastic items collected as recycling are not actually recycled. This is because plastic is not designed to be recycled, and because it is now cheaper to produce new plastic than to collect, reuse, refill, and recycle it.
Chemical recycling is more tolerant of contamination than mechanical recycling, and it yields polymers that are identical to the originals, eliminating downcycling. It can also be used to break down polyester and polystyrene into their raw materials for conversion back into new polymers. However, it requires additional steps and heat, which can make it less efficient in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
Despite the potential benefits of chemical recycling, it is important to note that the overall recycling industry is facing significant challenges. For example, companies are often not incentivized to use recycled materials when the price of oil is low. Additionally, mechanical recycling, which involves sorting, cleaning, and shredding plastic to make pellets, is hampered by contamination and the high variety of plastic waste streams.
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Frequently asked questions
Unfortunately, most plastic waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated. In the UK, 45.7% of household waste is sent for recycling, but it is unclear where it ends up. In the US, that figure is 25.8%. The amount of plastic that is actually recycled and turned into new things has fallen to around 5%.
After being collected, your plastic waste is sent to a waste-sorting facility, where it is sorted by type and baled. It is then transported to its next destination.
The plastic is either sent to landfills, or it is incinerated. Some of it is sent to other countries, such as Malaysia, Thailand, or India, where it is often burned or abandoned, ending up in rivers and oceans.
Unfortunately, the reality is that most plastic does not get recycled. To ensure your plastic has the best chance of being recycled, make sure it is clean and dry before putting it in the recycling bin. You can also look for the How2Recycle label on flexible polyethylene-based plastics, which indicates that the plastic can be recycled at a store drop-off location.
