Maya Ellison
Plastic is everywhere, and we are all paying the price. Humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic, which surpasses the biomass of all animals on Earth. While recycling plastic is an important step towards lowering our ecological footprint, the recycling rate for plastic is extremely low. In 2018, the recycling rate for plastic in the US was 8.7%, while in 2021, the recycling rate for post-consumer plastic was just 5-6%. Overall, about 91% of plastic is not recycled, with only a small portion of plastic waste being incinerated or recycled, and the rest ending up in landfills and our oceans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of plastic recycled in 2018 | 8.7% |
| Recycling rate of PET bottles and jars in 2018 | 29.1% |
| Recycling rate of HDPE natural bottles in 2018 | 29.3% |
| Plastic recycling rate in Maine and Oregon | 80% |
| Plastic recycling rate in some Southern states | Single digits |
| National average for PET bottle recycling | 30% |
| Global plastic waste recycled | Less than 10% |
| Plastic waste generated in the US each year | 48 million tons |
| Percentage of plastic waste recycled in the US | 5% to 6% |
| Percentage of plastic waste recycled globally according to the American Chemistry Council | 10% |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic recycling rates are low, 5-9% globally
Plastic recycling rates are extremely low, with only 5-9% of plastic waste recycled globally. This is a shocking statistic, especially considering that plastic is everywhere and that humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of it. The low recycling rates are due to various factors, including the material properties of plastics, the challenges of recycling, and the contribution of the plastic industry in deceiving consumers.
Firstly, it is important to understand that not all plastics can be recycled due to their material properties. While about 75% of global plastics produced are thermoplastics that can be melted and molded for recycling, the remaining 25% are thermoset plastics that do not soften with heat, making them nearly impossible to recycle. Thermoset plastics are used in products like electrical insulation, ropes, belts, and pipes, and their durable nature means they are disposed of less often. However, they still contribute to environmental pollution, especially microplastic water contamination.
Secondly, recycling plastics is challenging, and it is only one part of addressing the global plastic pollution crisis. Mechanical recycling, which involves grinding, melting, and reforming plastic, requires proper sorting and cleaning, which can be time-intensive and expensive. Additionally, many recycled plastics contain unwanted toxins, and they often cannot be recycled more than once without acquiring defects. This limitation highlights the need for alternative solutions, such as investing in recycling programs and encouraging local policies that promote recycling.
Lastly, the plastic industry's role in deceiving consumers cannot be overlooked. Despite knowing that most plastic products could never be effectively recycled, major companies in the industry ran campaigns to promote plastic use and recycling as a solution to waste management. This "fraud of plastic recycling" has been exposed by CBS and other organizations, revealing that the recycling rates are even lower than initially thought, at just 5-6% according to some sources.
In conclusion, the global plastic recycling rate of 5-9% is alarmingly low, and it is a result of various factors, including the limitations of plastic materials, the challenges of recycling, and the deceptive practices of the plastic industry. To address this crisis, we need to focus on reducing plastic consumption, improving recycling technologies, and implementing effective policies that prioritize the environment over corporate profits.
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Plastic pollution is a crisis, with 11 billion metric tons produced
Plastic pollution is a crisis, with humans having created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic to date. This amount surpasses the biomass of all animals, both on land and in the sea, according to a 2020 study published in Nature. The vast majority of plastic is not recycled, with estimates ranging from 5-10% for the amount of plastic that is actually recycled globally. This low recycling rate is due to a combination of factors, including the material properties of plastics, consumer behaviour, and the challenges associated with recycling certain types of plastics.
While some types of plastic, such as thermoplastics, can be melted and molded multiple times to produce new plastics, other types, such as thermoset plastics, are difficult or impossible to recycle. Thermoset plastics do not soften when exposed to heat, making them nearly impossible to recycle. Additionally, even when plastics are recyclable, they may not always be recycled due to factors such as contamination or improper sorting and cleaning.
The consequences of the low recycling rate are severe. Plastic waste ends up in landfills, the ocean, and other natural environments, causing pollution and harm to wildlife. Plastic pollution has been found in remote and less-polluted parts of the world, such as the East Coast of the United States, and can hide in plain sight as a ubiquitous part of our lives.
To address the plastic pollution crisis, a range of solutions are needed beyond just recycling. This includes improving waste management systems, reducing the use of single-use plastics, and implementing policies to prevent plastic pollution. Local policies can make a significant difference in encouraging recycling, as seen in states like Maine and Oregon, which have invested in recycling programs and achieved higher recycling rates for certain types of plastic bottles.
Despite the challenges, there is a growing recognition of the importance of addressing plastic pollution. More than 170 countries are working on a United Nations treaty to end plastic pollution, and organizations like rePurpose Global are supporting sustainability initiatives to reduce plastic waste. By combining individual efforts with policy changes and global cooperation, we can make significant strides in tackling the crisis of plastic pollution and reducing its impact on our planet.
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Plastic is hard to recycle, especially thermoset plastics
Plastic is everywhere, and it is cheap to make and profitable. However, it is not so easy to recycle. The process of recycling plastic involves grinding it up, melting it down, and reforming it. This requires proper sorting and cleaning, which can be time-consuming and expensive. It is also often the case that plastic cannot be recycled more than once without acquiring defects and contaminants.
One of the biggest challenges with recycling plastic is that it is hard to collect it in a large enough quantity with consistency. Used household plastics are rarely uniform in shape, size, colour, cleanliness, or even material. This makes it challenging to separate and process them en masse into new plastic items. As a result, far too much plastic ends up in landfills, either because it is intentionally thrown away or because it is put in the recycling bin with no scalable solution.
Thermoset plastics are especially difficult to recycle. Thermosets are one of the two major classes of plastics, the other being thermoplastics. Thermoplastics can be recycled by heating them until they become liquid and then remoulding them into a new shape. Thermoset plastics, however, once cooled into a solid, cannot easily be returned to a liquid state. This is because the bonds between the polymer molecules are strong chemical attachments called covalent bonds, which are very difficult to break. When heated, thermoset plastics will typically burn before they can be remoulded.
Thermoset plastics are used in many products that require durability and heat resistance, such as car parts and electrical appliances. They are also used in automobiles, electric generators, computers, and protective covers. The difficulty in recycling them arises from their chemical structure, which, once cured, cannot be reversed. Thus, the developed shapes are fixed and resistant to heat and wear.
Despite the challenges, there is a steady trend towards making usable recycled thermoset plastics. For example, MIT chemists have developed a way to modify thermoset plastics to make them more easily broken down without compromising their mechanical strength.
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Mechanical recycling is time-intensive and expensive
Mechanical recycling involves collecting plastic bottles, grinding them up, melting them down, washing them, and separating them to ensure there isn't contamination. The plastic is then typically recycled back into plastic bottles and other items. While mechanical recycling has proven to work operationally, it has not proven to work economically. There are several reasons why mechanical recycling is time-intensive and expensive:
Firstly, mechanical recycling is time-consuming because it involves properly sorting and cleaning materials, which can be a lengthy process. The cost of initial sorting is high, and the subsequent additional sorting and improved recycling processes are also expensive.
Secondly, mechanical recycling often results in a recycled product that is not as aesthetically or visually attractive as virgin plastic. This makes it difficult to find clients for recycled plastics, limiting their applications.
Thirdly, mechanical recycling may result in products that contain unwanted toxins and defects. For example, mechanically recycled plastic may have some colour or odour contamination. This further reduces the marketability of the recycled product and may deter clients who require aesthetically pleasing materials, such as food packaging or medical applications.
Finally, mechanical recycling is expensive compared to virgin plastic production. The cost of recycling equipment, processing lines, and waste composition contribute to the overall expense. Chemical recycling, on the other hand, claims to produce cheaper recycled plastic, although it has not yet been proven to work on a large industrial scale.
In conclusion, mechanical recycling faces several challenges that contribute to its time-intensive and expensive nature. These include the need for thorough sorting and cleaning, the limited market for recycled products, the potential presence of toxins and defects, and the overall cost of the recycling process.
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$16.89
Local policies can encourage recycling, e.g. in Maine and Oregon
While the national average for recycling PET bottles in the US is 30%, local policies in Maine and Oregon have seen up to 80% of these bottles recycled. These states have invested in recycling programs, and their success shows that local policies can make a huge difference in encouraging recycling.
Maine, for example, has long championed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) or "product stewardship" laws. EPR programs shift the costs of dealing with difficult and dangerous items to the corporations and manufacturers that produce and sell them in the state. When producers are responsible for establishing and funding recycling programs, they are incentivized to design products that are less wasteful, more recyclable, and contain fewer toxins. Maine's product stewardship law sets a clear policy and process for methodically moving more product categories into an EPR system. The criteria for this include:
- The product contains toxics that pose a risk to the environment or public health and safety.
- A stewardship program will increase the recovery of the material for reuse and recycling.
- A stewardship program will reduce costs for local governments and taxpayers.
- There is a proven history of success of the stewardship program in other states or countries.
- Existing voluntary programs are not effective enough.
Maine also has hundreds of locations that collect rechargeable batteries for recycling, and its towns are working with propane dealers, cylinder recyclers, and scrap metal dealers to get the lowest price possible for getting tanks recycled. The state also has a beverage container redemption program, where people can earn 5-15 cents for each container they recycle.
Oregon, like Maine, has invested in recycling programs, but specific policies in the state are unclear.
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Frequently asked questions
Only about 9% of plastic waste generated globally has been recycled so far.
The recycling rate for post-consumer plastic was just 5% to 6% in 2021.
The recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018.
The recycling rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3% in 2018.
Yes, in Maine and Oregon, which have invested in recycling programs, up to 80% of bottles made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate) are recycled.
