Chloe Zhang
Plastic is a synthetic polymer made from natural gas, oil, and coal. It is a diverse material with many applications, forms, and sizes. There are seven different types of plastic, and the recycling process can be challenging. The complexity of the recycling process, the existence of markets for specific plastic types, and the ability to recover and reprocess them are some of the factors that affect the recyclability of plastics. Some plastics are widely recycled, such as PET bottles and HDPE milk jugs, while others, like PVC and cling film, are non-recyclable. The resin code or the number inside the recycling triangle can provide a guideline, with lower numbers generally indicating higher recyclability. However, the recycling symbol does not guarantee that an item is recyclable.
Differences between recyclable plastics
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of plastic types | 7 |
| Most widely recycled plastic | PET |
| Most consistently recycled plastic | PET and HDPE |
| Least recycled plastics | Plastics labelled 3 through 7 |
| Non-recyclable plastics | Cling film, blister packaging, bioplastics, composite plastic, plastic-coated wrapping paper, polycarbonate |
| Difficulties in recycling | Many types of plastic in one item, additives and colourants, economic and technical limitations, environmental factors, thin bags and films |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic resins and their recyclability
Plastic resins are used in a variety of containers and packaging products, such as PET bottles and jars, HDPE bottles for milk and water, and other plastic containers, bags, sacks, wraps and lids.
There are seven different types of plastic resins being used around the world, which differ in size, colour, usage and disposal. The many additives and colourants used in the production of plastic products, as well as their diverse applications, forms and sizes, make the recycling process difficult.
Some plastic resins are easier to recycle than others. For example, PET and HDPE are the most widely recycled plastics in the world, and are accepted at most recycling centres. This is because they are economically viable, with reliable markets that transform these plastics into new products. PET can be recycled into fashion items, such as polar fleece clothing, backpacks and carpets, as well as into more bottles and jars. HDPE can be recycled into more bottles and bags, as well as into other products such as detergent, shampoo bottles, motor oil, household cleaners, film packaging, pipes, lawn products and non-food application bottles.
LPDE is a strong and durable plastic that is often used for products that require flexibility, such as grocery bags and sandwich bags. It can be recycled to make more of the same products. PP is a plastic resin that is more difficult to recycle because it doesn't break down easily. Only a small portion of what is produced can be recycled, and this is usually used to make more of the same products it came from, such as clothing, bottles, ropes and tubs.
PVC is commonly used but is not generally easily recycled. However, companies that use PVC to make products can reuse scraps in-house, meaning that nothing has to go to waste during production.
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Plastic recycling processes
Plastic recycling is an essential process that helps protect the environment, ecosystems, and human life. It reduces pollution, animal fatalities, and health concerns caused by plastic waste. Recycling plastic is also less time-consuming and cheaper than manufacturing new materials, and it reduces fossil fuel usage as plastic is made from crude oil.
There are several types of plastic recycling processes, including mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and organic recycling. Mechanical recycling is the most common approach, and it involves processing plastic waste into secondary raw materials or products without significantly altering the material's chemical structure. This method includes processes like grinding, washing, separating, drying, re-granulating, and compounding. The majority of plastic recycling worldwide is done through mechanical recycling. However, plastics that are recycled multiple times through this method tend to lose quality and become degraded.
Chemical recycling, on the other hand, is a growing approach that offers greater scalability. It covers technologies like pyrolysis, gasification, hydro-cracking, and depolymerization, which break down the chemical structure of plastic waste. For instance, pyrolysis involves heating polymers in the absence of oxygen, causing them to break down into smaller parts that behave like a type of oil. This synthetic oil can then be used as feedstock in the petrochemical industry. Chemical recycling is a promising technology that can bring plastic back to its raw, high-quality state.
Organic recycling is another process that involves the controlled microbiological treatment of biodegradable plastics waste under aerobic (composting) or anaerobic (biogasification) conditions. It applies to specific polymers that can be converted by microorganisms into stabilized organic residues, carbon dioxide, methane, and water.
The plastic recycling process typically begins with collection and sorting. Used plastics are collected from homes and institutions and placed in recycling containers. At the recycling facility, further sorting by color or thickness may be done, either by machine or by hand. Sorting is crucial as most recycling machines can only process one type of plastic at a time. After sorting, the plastics are shredded, washed to remove impurities, and then passed through various recycling methods depending on the type of plastic and the intended outcome.
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Plastic waste management
The first step in tackling plastic waste is to reduce plastic consumption. Consumers can play a powerful role by cutting down on their use of plastic and choosing reusable alternatives. However, with the current rate of plastic production and consumption, reducing plastic waste generation alone is not enough. Proper waste management and disposal systems are crucial to addressing the existing plastic waste crisis.
Recycling is a key component of plastic waste management. While almost all plastic can theoretically be recycled, various barriers exist in practice. These include economic, environmental, and technical challenges, such as the difficulty of separating and recycling items made of multiple types of plastic and layers. Additionally, the diverse applications, forms, and sizes of plastic products, as well as the use of additives and colorants, can complicate the recycling process. Despite these challenges, recycling infrastructure is improving, and new technologies are being developed to recycle plastics that were previously difficult to recycle.
Mechanical and chemical recycling are the two main methods of recycling plastic. Mechanical recycling involves washing, grinding, and melting plastic, while chemical recycling breaks down plastic into monomers to form new polymers for reuse. Some of the most widely recycled plastics include PET bottles (typically used for water and soda) and HDPE milk jugs due to their economic viability. These recycled plastics can be transformed into new products, such as fashion items, carpets, backpacks, and even new bottles.
However, recycling efforts are not enough on their own. The Basel Convention, an international agreement, provides guidance on the environmentally sound management of plastic waste, including technical guidelines for its handling. It is essential to have proper collection and disposal systems in place to ensure plastic waste does not end up in landfills, uncontrolled sites, or the environment. Exploring alternatives to landfills, such as repurposing or reusing plastic waste, is also crucial in the short term while we work towards more sustainable solutions.
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Plastic products and their reuse
Plastic is everywhere, from our daily lives to our environment. It is designed to last forever, yet 33% of all plastic is used just once and then thrown away. This is a huge environmental challenge, as plastic does not biodegrade and toxic chemicals can leach out, getting into our food supply and, ultimately, our bodies.
There are seven different types of plastic used around the world, which differ in size, colour, usage, and disposal. While almost all plastic can be recycled, there are many barriers that prevent this from happening. For example, some plastics are hard to recycle because they are made from multiple types of plastic and have different layers. Other types of plastic are not widely collected and recycled from households. Additionally, some countries are struggling to reach decent recycling rates.
However, there are still ways to reuse plastic products and keep them out of the ocean and the environment. For example, you can reuse plastic bottles as cups for pens and supplies or as storage for craft supplies. You can also cut plastic bottles and attach zippers to both ends to create a coloured pencil case. Plastic bottles can also be reused to make bird feeders, vases, lamps, and even a jet pack costume for kids.
To reduce plastic waste, it is important to cut down on plastic use in the first place. This can be done by using reusable items, such as water bottles, straws, cups, and bags, instead of single-use plastic items. It is also important to properly recycle plastic products when possible, ensuring that they are washed, ground, melted, or broken down into monomers to form new polymers.
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Plastic recycling rates
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the plastic recycling rate in the United States was 8.7% in 2018. An NGO report claimed that in 2021, this had dropped to around 5%, possibly due to the global pandemic. The UK recycles just 17% of its annual plastic waste. The OECD estimates that only 9% of the world's plastic is recycled.
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. PET and HDPE are the most consistently recycled plastics due to their economic viability. PET can be recycled into fashion items such as polar fleece clothing, backpacks, and carpets. HDPE can be recycled into products such as detergent and shampoo bottles.
Despite these relatively low recycling rates, incredible products can come from the process. The majority of recycled plastic comes from post-consumer sources, such as milk jugs, bottles, and packaging films. However, there are many economical, environmental, and technical barriers to recycling. For example, recycling facilities cost millions of dollars to build and operate, and small quantities of plastic may make the process uneconomical. Many items include multiple types of plastic and different layers, which are hard to separate and make recyclability difficult and costly. The additives and colorants used in plastic production can also make the recycling process more difficult.
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Frequently asked questions
The difference in the recyclability of plastic types can be down to how they are made; thermoset plastics contain polymers that form irreversible chemical bonds and cannot be recycled, whereas thermoplastics can be re-melted and re-molded. The general rule of thumb is, the lower the resin code, the more likely the plastic type is to be easily recyclable.
Examples of non-recyclable plastics include bioplastics, composite plastic, plastic-coated wrapping paper, polycarbonate, cling film, and blister packaging.
PET plastic bottles and HDPE milk jugs are recycled most consistently among the different categories of plastic due to their economic viability.
There are two main ways to recycle plastic: mechanical recycling, where plastic is washed, ground, and melted, and chemical recycling, where plastic is broken down into monomers to form new polymers to be reused.
