Omar Khalid
Plastic is a versatile material that can be found in everything from beverage bottles to pipes and credit cards. However, not all plastics are created equal when it comes to recyclability. While in theory, almost all plastic can be recycled, in practice, there are economic, technical, and environmental barriers that hinder the process. The plastic industry's negative impact on the environment has been significant, with plastics polluting oceans, landfills, and water sources, and even making their way into our bodies. Improper recycling methods, such as mixing different types of plastics, further complicate the issue. To address this, consumers need to be mindful of the types of plastics that can be recycled and take steps to reduce their plastic consumption. Additionally, legal reforms and alternative disposal methods are necessary to mitigate the environmental impact of plastic waste.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic recycling rate in the US | 5% to 6% |
| Plastic recycling rate in the US (2018 data) | 9% |
| Plastic recycling rate for soda and water bottles and milk jugs | Close to 30% |
| Plastic recycling rate in Europe | 52% |
| Plastic recycling rate for PET in the US | 31% |
| Most widely recycled plastic in the world | PET |
| Plastic with the highest recovery rate | PET |
| Second-highest recovery rate | HDPE |
| Plastic that is not commonly recycled | PVC |
| Plastic that is difficult and expensive to recycle | Polypropylene |
| Number of plastic types in the world | 7 |
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What You'll Learn
PET/PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
Polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as PET or PETE, is a widely used polymer in various industries due to its excellent physical and chemical properties. PET is a major source of accumulated waste in landfills, and improper disposal of products has caused significant environmental damage. Therefore, recycling methods have evolved to address this issue.
The primary motivation for recycling and reprocessing waste PET stems from public knowledge and concern about pollution. PET is very easy to recycle and is usually reused for bottles or polyester fibres. According to PETRA, the PET Resin Association, approximately 31% of PET in the United States is recycled, compared to a more robust 52% recycling rate in Europe. It is the most recycled plastic globally today, but the demand for recycled PET still isn't being met by existing recovery processes.
Out of the six most prevalent polymers used in packaging, PET has the highest recycling rate. In 2018, 19.7 million tonnes of food-grade PET bottles were manufactured, with 845,000 tonnes being mechanically recycled back into food-grade PET bottles. It is estimated that this will reach 30.4 million tonnes in the next few years, with over 3 million tonnes mechanically recycled.
There are different methods for recycling PET, including conventional recycling methods and bio-recycling or bio-upcycling. Conventional recycling methods include 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. Bio-recycling or bio-upcycling is an eco-friendly process that converts PET monomers into value-added products using microorganisms.
Overall, the increasing use of PET products has led to a global waste management crisis, and recycling is crucial to address this issue and improve the environment.
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HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
HDPE, or High-Density Polyethylene, is a widely recyclable plastic. It is a popular plastic type due to its strength, flexibility, and high tensile strength. Its molecular structure contains very few branching side chains, increasing density and tensile strength. It is also impact-resistant and has a high strength-density ratio.
HDPE is commonly used in consumer and industrial applications. It is often used for packaging, including milk bottles, laundry detergent, hair care products, and cleaning supplies. It is also used for plastic crates, detergent and bleach bottles, and pipes. Its strength and flexibility make it ideal for these applications.
HDPE is recyclable in all its forms, including bottles, bags, tanks, film, offcuts, and sheets. It is one of the easiest plastic polymers to recycle and is accepted at most recycling centers globally. The recycling process for HDPE typically involves shredding, melting, and subsequent pelletization. The recycled HDPE is then sold to plastics manufacturers to create new products.
Recycling HDPE is important for protecting the planet and reducing plastic waste. It is also beneficial for businesses, as it can save money on plastic disposal costs. Additionally, using recycled HDPE in manufacturing processes is less expensive than starting from scratch with new plastic. Overall, HDPE is a highly recyclable plastic with numerous advantages for both the environment and industry.
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LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
LDPE, or Low-Density Polyethylene, is a type of plastic that is widely used but not widely recycled. It is a thermoplastic made from the ethylene monomer and is known for its flexibility, toughness, and transparency. LDPE is commonly used for packaging and wrapping, including bubble wrap and plastic bags, as well as in agricultural applications to keep produce fresh. It is also FDA-approved for food contact and has high heat resistance, making it suitable for heat sealing.
While LDPE can technically be recycled, it is not as commonly accepted by recyclers as other types of plastics, such as HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene). The recycling process for LDPE depends on the nature of the plastic, with rigid forms being easier to recycle than flexible products, which tend to be contaminated by the items they package. LDPE's flexibility can also cause issues during recycling, as it tends to tangle in the machinery, requiring manual intervention and potentially causing damage to equipment.
The low recycling rate of LDPE has significant environmental implications. Plastic can take hundreds of years to biodegrade, and LDPE, despite disintegrating quicker than HDPE, still poses a threat to the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, only 6.2% of LDPE generated in 2015 was recycled, compared to 18.4% and 10.3% recycling rates for PET and HDPE respectively.
To improve LDPE recycling rates, some grocery stores and businesses that provide LDPE bags have set up collection bins where customers can return used bags for proper recycling. Additionally, LDPE can often be recycled at grocery stores, and some local curbside recycling programs accept LDPE through their drop-off programs. It is important to check with local recycling programs to understand their specific guidelines for LDPE recycling.
Recycled LDPE can be used to create a range of new products, such as garbage cans, manufactured lumber, and new plastic bags. By increasing LDPE recycling, we can reduce the amount of waste sent to incineration facilities and landfills, saving this type of plastic from harming the environment and contributing to pollution.
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PP (Polypropylene)
Polypropylene, or PP, is a versatile plastic with a wide range of applications, from packaging and textiles to automotive parts and medical devices. It is one of the most commonly used plastics in the world, and its recycling potential is significant.
PP is semi-crystalline, flexible, and lightweight, with excellent resistance to fatigue and chemical corrosion. These properties make it a valuable material for recycling and reuse. The process of recycling PP typically involves sorting, cleaning, and melting the plastic before it can be reused. One of the challenges in recycling PP is its low density, which means that a large volume of PP waste can be quite lightweight, making transportation costs a significant factor in the recycling process.
To address this, some recycling processes involve compressing PP waste into bales, reducing the volume and making transport more efficient. The melted PP can then be extruded into pellets or granules, which can be used as a feedstock for creating new products. These pellets are highly valued in manufacturing as they can be easily transported and processed into a wide range of products.
Another challenge in PP recycling is the presence of contaminants, such as food residue or other types of plastics. It is crucial to have a pure stream of PP to produce high-quality recycled products. Therefore, effective sorting and cleaning processes are essential to ensure the success of the recycling process. The recycled PP can be used in various applications, such as packaging, furniture, automotive parts, and construction materials. It can also be utilized in the manufacturing of new products, including garden furniture, storage boxes, and composite materials.
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PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is a common material used in a variety of products, from plastic plumbing pipes and vinyl flooring to kayaks, cables, pharmaceutical packaging, medical tubes, and windows. It is a hardy, strong, and diverse plastic that can be either rigid or elastic and is found in clear, white, and coloured versions.
PVC is not commonly recycled. Historically, it had a zero percent recycling rate in the United States. However, this is expected to change due to a recent breakthrough by University of Michigan researchers, who discovered a way to recycle PVC plastics without using heat, thereby avoiding the release of toxic hydrochloric acid. The researchers also found that the plasticizers, which typically contaminate everything in the recycling stream, actually improve the efficiency of the electrochemical method.
With this new development, PVC can now be recycled up to 6 or 7 times, and with a product life of 100 years, recycled PVC has the potential to last up to 600 years. However, it still needs to be recycled at a facility that specializes in PVC recycling and mechanical recycling. Before being recycled, plastics are sorted according to their resin type, either manually or using mechanized automated processes, or even by colour.
Overall, the recycling of PVC is critical to improving the environment and bettering waste management solutions. The dangers of PVC disposal have made it one of the most advanced processes in mechanical recycling.
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Frequently asked questions
The seven different types of plastic used around the world are often distinguished by a number within the recycling symbol, known as an SPI or resin code. The numbers range from 1 to 7, with 7 being 'other'. Codes 1 and 2 are the only plastics that can be recycled together, and are commonly found in clear drinking bottles, some food packaging, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, and more. Other plastics that are technically recyclable include PET, HDPE, LDPE, PP, and PVC, but these are often not accepted by residential recycling programs and may need to be taken to a specialist facility.
Plastic that is not recycled will often end up in landfills and oceans, causing ecological damage and killing around 100,000 marine mammals and one million seabirds annually, according to UNESCO. Improperly recycled plastic can also end up in water sources and the human food chain, with studies showing plastic particles in breast milk, placenta, and blood.
Environmental legislation and developments in recycling methods are already helping to improve recycling rates, but widespread legal reform is needed to curb the plastic industry's negative impact on the environment. Consumers can also play a role by cutting down on their plastic consumption and ensuring that they only attempt to recycle plastics that are accepted by their local recycling program.
