Chloe Zhang
Plastic is a rapidly growing segment of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the US. While the overall amount of recycled plastics is relatively small, the recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant. The recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, and the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3%. PET is the most widely recycled plastic globally, and in the US, the recycling rate for HDPE bottles is around 30%. However, it's important to note that the recycling rates for plastics vary across different regions and countries, and there are challenges and misconceptions associated with plastic recycling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Plastic Recycled the Most in the US | PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) |
| Other Types of Plastic Being Recycled | HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene), LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene), PP (Polypropylene), PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), PS (Polystyrene) |
| US Recycling Rate for PET Bottles and Jars in 2018 | 29.1% |
| US Recycling Rate for HDPE Bottles | Around 30% |
| Global Recycling Rate for PET in 2011 | 7.5 million tons |
| Issues with Plastic Recycling | Plastic degradation, lack of proper recycling infrastructure, low recycling rates, consumer preference for single-use plastics, plastic pollution, difficulty in recycling different types of plastics together |
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What You'll Learn
PET plastic is the most recycled plastic globally
Polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, is the most recycled plastic in the world. PET is recognised as plastic number 1 and is used on a large scale in the production of rigid packaging, representing 90% of the plastic bottles on the market. It is a high-quality, rigid, and lightweight material that is chemically and mechanically resistant, bright, and transparent. These properties make it ideal for protecting and preserving food products.
Despite being relatively easy to recycle, the recycling rates for PET in the US and China are low compared to countries like India, Europe, and South Korea, which have rates higher than 50%. In 2018, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars in the US was only 29.1%. This is still higher than the recycling rates for other plastics in the US, which overall is relatively small, with only 3 million tons recycled out of 35.7 million tons of plastic generated in 2018, resulting in an 8.7% recycling rate.
The low recycling rates in the US are due to several factors. Firstly, there are thousands of different types of plastic, and none of them can be melted down together, making it expensive and difficult to collect, sort, and recycle. Additionally, many products are made with multiple types of plastic and different layers, which are hard to separate and make the recyclability of these products difficult and costly. Plastic bags, for example, tend to tangle in recycling machinery, endangering the recycling process.
Furthermore, the proliferation of plastic products has resulted in a negative environmental footprint, with a long-term risk to ecosystems, food safety, and human health. The more plastic is reused, the more toxic it becomes, and the majority of plastic waste ends up in landfills or the ocean. Only around 41% of post-consumer plastic waste is recovered by recycling and incineration, while 40% is landfilled, and 19% ends up in the oceans or on coastlines.
To improve the recycling rates of PET and other plastics, it is essential to address these challenges and work towards more sustainable solutions.
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HDPE is 100% recyclable and accepted at most centres
In the US, the recycling rate for HDPE bottles was 29.3% in 2018, which is considered a relatively small amount. However, HDPE is 100% recyclable and is accepted at most recycling centres worldwide. This is because it is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle.
HDPE, or high-density polyethylene, is often used for milk and water bottles, as well as natural bottles. It can be transparent or pigmented (coloured). The primary markets for post-consumer recycled natural HDPE include non-food application bottles, such as those for detergent, motor oil, and household cleaners. It is also used for film packaging.
HDPE is one of the three plastic resins that make up most consumer packaging, the other two being PET and PP. Together, these plastics have a recycling rate of 21% according to the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). However, the recycling rate of all plastic in the US is much lower, at 8.7% in 2018 according to the EPA. This is because, despite the recyclability of certain plastics, the majority of recycled plastic is still sent to landfills.
This is due to a variety of reasons, including the cost of collecting and sorting different types of plastic, the degradation of plastic after one or two uses, and the fact that some plastics are very cheap and low-quality, making their recycling financially unviable. For example, plastic bags tend to tangle in recycling machinery, endangering the recycling process, and so many municipalities won't accept them in curbside recycling bins.
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LDPE plastic bags are rarely recycled
In 2018, the recycling rate for plastic in the US was 8.7%. While this is a relatively small amount, the recycling rate for some specific types of plastic containers is more significant. 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 is the most widely recycled plastic in the world, and it is relatively easy to recycle. However, countries like the US and China are yet to scale up their recycling numbers.
Despite being technically recyclable, LDPE plastic bags are rarely recycled. LDPE, or low-density polyethylene, is a type of plastic commonly used in plastic shopping bags, bread bags, garbage bags, food wrappings, and squeezable bottles. It is flexible, transparent, oil-resistant, and chemical-resistant, making it ideal for various applications. However, LDPE is a very cheap and low-quality plastic, making its recycling financially unviable. Many municipalities do not accept LDPE in curbside recycling bins, and it is not always recycled even when it is placed in these bins.
LDPE plastic bags tend to tangle in recycling machinery, endangering the entire recycling process and causing damage to equipment. This requires workers to routinely stop the machines and remove the plastic, resulting in lost time and potential equipment damage. As a result, LDPE recycling is often not considered financially worthwhile.
While LDPE can be recycled into new products like garbage cans and manufactured lumber, the recycling rate for LDPE is significantly lower than that of PET and HDPE. In 2015, the most recent year for which data is available, the recycling rate for LDPE was only 6.2%, compared to 18.4% for PET and 10.3% for HDPE. This low recycling rate contributes to the plastic pollution problem, as most LDPE products end up in landfills.
To address this issue, some grocery stores and businesses that provide LDPE bags have set up collection bins where customers can return used bags for proper recycling. Additionally, individuals can reuse LDPE bags at home or return them to stores that collect them for recycling. However, despite these efforts, the challenges associated with recycling LDPE mean that most of these plastics are still destined for landfills.
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PP is a popular packaging material but rarely recycled
Polypropylene (PP) is a highly popular packaging material due to its lightweight nature, extreme durability, and processing versatility. It is used in the food, beverage, cosmetic, household cleaning, and healthcare industries. PP is also safe for food contact and is microwave safe. Its glossy finish makes it aesthetically pleasing and easy to handle.
However, PP is rarely recycled. In fact, only around 1-3% of PP is recycled in the US, with the rest ending up in landfills. This is because PP does not have a standard format, making it challenging to properly collect and sort. Unlike easily recyclable plastics like PET and HDPE, which have distinct shapes like bottles or jars, PP comes in various colors and formats, such as cups, trays, containers, bottles, and packages. This diversity in size, format, and color makes it difficult for recycling facilities to sort and process PP.
The lack of recycling for PP contributes to the growing problem of plastic waste. Despite the efforts of organizations like the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and The Recycling Partnership to improve PP recovery, the majority of plastic still ends up in landfills. This is due to the challenges of collecting and sorting plastic, as well as the high cost and low financial incentive of recycling certain plastics.
While PP can be melted down and reformed into new products, it is not conducive to being easily recycled. When PP burns, it undergoes a chemical change that cannot be reversed. As a result, recycled PP cannot be melted and reformed multiple times like other plastics. This limitation increases the cost of recycling PP, making it less financially attractive compared to other materials.
Despite its challenges, there is a growing demand for recycled PP content. Companies like Plastic Ingenuity are working with brands to incorporate recycled PP (rPP) into their packaging systems to meet recycled content goals. Additionally, the FDA has granted approval for food-grade rPP to a small number of reclaimers, indicating an increasing acceptance of rPP in food packaging applications. These efforts are crucial steps toward reducing plastic waste and promoting a more circular economy.
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Polystyrene is recycled into items like coat hangers
Plastic recycling rates in the US are relatively low, with only around 8.7% of plastic recycled in 2018. The most widely recycled plastic in the world is PET, which is used for plastic bottles and recycled into items like polar fleece clothing, backpacks, and carpets. However, the US has a low recycling rate for PET, with India, Europe, and South Korea all having rates above 50%.
Polystyrene, on the other hand, is a type of plastic that is difficult to recycle and is not regularly accepted by curbside recycling services. It is often used to make coat hangers, which are a common single-use plastic item in the fashion industry. These hangers are usually made from polystyrene or polycarbonate, which are types of plastic that are not easily recyclable. Polystyrene is also known as plastic number 6, and polycarbonate is one of the plastics referred to as plastic number 7.
While it is technically possible to recycle polystyrene, it is not commonly done due to various challenges. One major issue is that many coat hangers contain metal wires coated in plastic, and these mixed materials can contaminate a batch of recyclable plastic, rendering it unusable. Additionally, the sorting machines at recycling facilities often cannot detect black plastic hangers due to their colour, as they absorb infrared light instead of reflecting it.
The difficulty in recycling coat hangers made from polystyrene highlights the complexities of plastic recycling. It is important to reduce the use of single-use plastics and to properly dispose of or repurpose items like coat hangers to minimise their environmental impact.
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Frequently asked questions
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most recycled plastic in the US and the world. However, the US has a low recycling rate for PET, with only around 30% being recycled in 2018.
PET is often used for plastic bottles and jars. When recycled, it can be used for fashion items, such as polar fleece clothing, backpacks, and carpets.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is another plastic that is widely recycled and accepted at most recycling centers. It is often used for packaging, including bottles for milk, laundry detergent, and household cleaners. In the US, the recycling rate for HDPE bottles is around 30%.
