Sofia Martinez
Plastic is everywhere, and it's cheap to make and profitable. Humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic, which is more than the biomass of all animals on Earth. It's no surprise that plastic waste is a huge problem, and one that many people try to tackle by recycling. But what really happens to our recycled plastic? It's collected by local authorities and taken to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and/or Plastic Recovery Facilities (PRFs) to be sorted. However, it often doesn't get recycled; it ends up in landfills, or is burned, or abandoned, eventually finding its way into rivers and oceans. The plastic that is recycled is shredded, melted, and turned into pellets to be sold for use in new products. But even this process is problematic, as it's expensive and energy-intensive to collect and sort plastic, and transportation contributes to pollution as plastic escapes and breaks apart into microplastics that enter our bodies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of plastic recycled globally | 9% according to a 2017 Science Advances paper; 20% according to the paper's lead author |
| Plastic waste in the UK | More than half is going to Turkey and Malaysia |
| Plastic recycling in the US | 5-6% according to Google; 5% according to a comment on Reddit |
| Plastic recycling in the UK | The government claims that almost half of the UK's plastic packaging gets recycled, but this is disputed |
| Plastic recycling in the UK | Thousands of tonnes of household plastic packaging put out for recycling ends up in incinerators |
| Plastic recycling in the UK | British plastic has been found dumped by the side of the road, abandoned in illegal dumps, or set on fire in Turkey and Malaysia |
| Plastic recycling in the UK | About half of all paper and cardboard, and two-thirds of plastics, will be loaded onto trucks |
| Plastic recycling in general | Sorting is mainly done automatically with a manual sort to ensure all contaminants have been removed |
| Plastic recycling in general | Once sorted and cleaned, plastic can be shredded into flakes or melt-processed to form pellets before being moulded into new products |
| Plastic recycling in general | Plastic bottles are usually made from two types of plastic that are easy to recycle: PET and HDPE |
| Plastic recycling in general | 99% of all UK local authorities now offer collection facilities for plastic bottles |
| Plastic recycling in general | Some types of plastic may say they are compostable in a home composter, but these should not go in your dry recycling collection or garden waste bin |
| Plastic recycling in general | Some supermarkets and retailers have started collecting a wider range of plastic bags and wrappings, or soft plastics |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic is not designed to be recycled
The reality is that plastic recycling is challenging and costly. Sorting plastic is "infeasible", and the cost of separating plastics is high. The low price of oil, from which plastic is made, means that recycling plastic waste is not economically justifiable. The new plastic is still relatively cheap to produce, and so added costs to the recycling process make recycled plastic significantly more expensive.
Furthermore, not all plastic is widely recyclable. The difference in the recyclability of plastic types depends on how they are made. Thermoset plastics, for example, contain polymers that form irreversible chemical bonds and cannot be recycled. They are used in products such as electrical insulation, ropes, belts, and pipes. On the other hand, thermoplastics can be remelted and remolded. However, even thermoplastics, which make up 75% of global plastic production, are not always recycled due to factors such as food residue and the high costs of post-consumer selection and washing.
The limitations of plastic recycling highlight the need to reduce plastic consumption and find sustainable alternatives. While recycling is an important part of the solution, it is not enough to solve the plastic pollution crisis. The fossil fuel industry, governments, and corporations need to reduce the production of plastic and promote plastic-free alternatives.
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The global waste industry
The process typically begins with materials recovery facilities (MRFs) that sort waste into different types such as aluminium cans, paper, cardboard, plastic, and general rubbish. From there, the materials enter a labyrinthine network of brokers and traders, with some remaining in the domestic market and others being exported internationally. However, the fate of exported plastic waste is often uncertain, as it is challenging to track and regulate its journey across borders.
In the past, China was one of the world's largest importers of plastic waste, using it for its manufacturing industries. However, in 2018, China imposed import bans on 24 types of recyclable waste, causing its plastic waste imports to drop significantly. Since then, other countries, such as Turkey and Malaysia, have become significant recipients of plastic waste exports. Unfortunately, there have been reports of dumped plastic waste from countries like Britain being burned, abandoned in illegal dumps, or left by the side of the road in these countries.
To address these issues, experts advocate for a systemic approach that goes beyond recycling. This includes reducing plastic consumption, finding sustainable alternatives, and implementing policies such as Extended Producer Responsibility schemes, landfill taxes, and deposit-refund systems. International cooperation is also crucial, as evidenced by the Basel Convention, which aims to restrict the trade of plastic scraps between nations unless they lack sufficient recycling or disposal capacity. By aligning design approaches, regulating chemicals, and mobilizing financing for low and middle-income countries, there is a potential to improve waste management infrastructure and promote circularity in the plastics industry.
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Greenwashing
The plastic recycling process is often touted as a solution to the plastic pollution crisis. However, the reality is that most plastic items collected for recycling are not actually recycled. This discrepancy between perception and reality is due, in part, to the phenomenon of greenwashing.
Another form of greenwashing is the co-opting of language used to describe genuine solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. For instance, terms like "zero-waste" and "circular" are increasingly being used by the plastic and petrochemical industries to perpetuate the myth of plastic recycling. Additionally, the recycling symbol, known as the chasing arrows, can be misleading. This symbol, along with a number, indicates the type of plastic resin used and does not guarantee that an item is recyclable.
The plastics industry has also engaged in deceptive advertising campaigns, such as promoting "advanced recycling" or "chemical recycling," which involves using chemicals or high heat to break down plastic waste into fuels, chemicals, or other materials. While this may seem like a positive development, it is essentially another form of incineration, contributing to air pollution and global warming.
To combat greenwashing, consumers should be cautious of recycling symbols and vague environmental claims. Instead, focus on reducing plastic consumption and choosing sustainable alternatives, such as reusable bags and water bottles. Additionally, supporting policies and legislation that mandate truthful and transparent environmental claims, such as California's Senate Bill 343, is crucial in holding industries accountable and ensuring consumers receive accurate information.
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Plastic incineration and landfill
On the other hand, landfills are significantly cheaper to run and require little to no waste sorting, making them quicker and less specialized. Burying plastic waste in landfills can be considered a form of carbon capture and storage, as plastic does not break down and emit greenhouse gases. However, landfills require large areas of land and can pose serious health hazards, especially older landfills that secrete leachate into groundwater, affecting drinking water quality and soil viability for crops.
The debate around plastic incineration and landfill is complex and depends on various factors, including geography, weather conditions, and the availability of resources. While incineration may be a more efficient way to generate energy and deal with plastic waste in certain contexts, landfills may be more feasible in others due to their lower costs and land requirements. Ultimately, the best solution is to reduce plastic consumption and find sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics.
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Plastic recycling exports
In 2019, 187 countries, excluding the United States, signed the Basel Convention amendments, aiming to restrict the trade of plastic scrap and waste. These amendments, which came into effect in 2021, require prior written consent from importing countries and any transit countries before allowing transboundary shipments of most plastic scrap. The goal was to address the improper disposal of plastic waste and reduce its leakage into the environment. Despite these efforts, the trade in plastic waste continues, with countries like the United States increasing their exports of plastic scrap, particularly to poorer nations.
Several factors contribute to the persistence of plastic recycling exports. Firstly, exporting plastic waste is often cheaper and more convenient than developing domestic recycling capacity. Wealthy nations can maintain a positive environmental image by offloading their waste to other countries, keeping their carbon and plastic footprints low. Additionally, the lack of regulations and oversight in some receiving countries makes them attractive destinations for plastic waste exports, despite the environmental and social consequences.
Countries like China, Thailand, and Turkey have been major recipients of plastic waste exports, but they have also been criticized for mismanaging this waste. China, once the largest importer, mismanaged 76% of the world's plastic waste exports, leading to environmental pollution and toxic releases. Similarly, Thailand and Turkey have been reported to have high rates of plastic waste mismanagement, with illegal burning and dumping practices causing harm to ecosystems and communities.
To address these issues, advocates are calling for stricter controls on the global trade in plastic waste. They propose measures such as certification schemes for accredited waste processors and exporters, transparency, stringent enforcement, and national export reduction plans. The goal is to ensure that plastic waste is managed in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, reducing the negative impacts on ecosystems, workers, and communities worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
Unfortunately, most plastic items that are placed in recycling bins are not actually recycled. Plastic is not designed to be recycled and the process is expensive, time-consuming, and requires specific facilities. In fact, a report by NPR found that plastic industry officials have known since the 1970s that plastic recycling is unachievable. Plastic often ends up in landfills, incinerators, or as part of the millions of tons of plastic waste polluting the world's oceans.
Once placed in a recycling bin, plastic is collected and sent to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) where it is separated from non-plastic materials. It is then sent to a Plastic Recovery Facility (PRF) to be sorted by type. After this, the plastic is washed, shredded, and sorted again before being reprocessed into new products. However, it is important to note that many plastics never make it to a recycling bin in the first place, and even those that do may not be properly recycled due to a lack of proper facilities and processes.
It is unlikely that your recycled plastic is being reused indefinitely. Plastic can only be recycled two to three times at most before the quality degrades, and even then, it is challenging to recycle plastic due to the thousands of different types available. Additionally, the recycling process is costly, and it is now often cheaper to produce new plastic than to recycle old plastic.
