Sofia Martinez
Plastic waste is a pressing issue for environmentalists, governments, and organisations, as the vast majority of plastics are disposed of in non-environmentally friendly ways, leading to polluted oceans, overfilled landfills, and ecological damage. While plastic is one of the most popular and useful materials of modern times, it is essential to extend its lifespan through reuse and recycling to minimise the need to create new plastic. Recycling plastic involves several steps, including collection, sorting, and reprocessing, and it can be done mechanically or chemically. Despite challenges and variations in recycling rates worldwide, efforts are being made to improve plastic recycling, such as the UK Plastics Pact, which aims for plastic packaging to contain at least 30% recycled content.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic recycling methods | Mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, feedstock recycling |
| Plastic types by resin code | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ("other") |
| Recyclable plastics | PET, HDPE |
| Non-recyclable plastics | Bioplastics, composite plastic, plastic-coated wrapping paper, polycarbonate, cling film, blister packaging |
| Plastic recycling rates by country/region | India, Europe, South Korea (>50%); US, China (lower) |
| Plastic recycling challenges | Economic, technical, environmental, weak demand, poor/inconsistent properties, contamination |
| Plastic recycling solutions | Extended producer responsibility, Basel Convention, EU legislation, UK Plastics Pact |
| Plastic recycling facilities | Material Recovery Facilities (MRF), Plastic Recovery Facilities (PRF) |
| Plastic recycling process | Collection, sorting, reprocessing, melting, extrusion into new products |
| Plastic recycling impact | Environmental improvement, waste management, reduced virgin oil use, CO2e reduction |
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What You'll Learn
Sorting plastics
Firstly, size sorting is conducted either manually or with sieves to separate plastics based on their dimensions. This is followed by the removal of foreign materials, such as metal and glass. Metals, in particular, can be extracted using their magnetic properties, making use of magnetic attraction for ferrous metals and induced magnetic repulsion for non-ferrous metals.
The next step involves sorting the plastic materials themselves. Plastics are sorted according to their resin type, which is indicated by the plastic resin codes ranging from 1 to 7, with 7 representing "other." The lower the resin code, the more likely the plastic is to be easily recyclable. Additionally, colour sorting may also be employed, as different colours indicate different types of plastic.
After sorting, the plastics are sized and granulated into plastic recyclate. This involves shredding the plastics into flakes or melt-processing them to form pellets before they are moulded into new products. Sorting to a high degree of purity is essential, as it ensures that polymers can be reused and retain their value.
The complexity of packaging design poses challenges in sorting plastics. For instance, black plastic, plastic sleeves on PET bottles, and products with multiple layers can result in valuable materials being discarded. Multi-layer packaging is particularly difficult and costly to separate, often requiring advanced technologies such as fluorescent markers or near-infrared systems.
Furthermore, there are safety considerations when sorting plastics. Certain combinations of plastics can lead to dangerous chemical reactions. For example, mixing PVC with PET bottles can contaminate the entire load, producing harmful acids or toxic dioxin emissions. Therefore, providing accurate data sheets with technical specifications for each plastic item is crucial to ensure safe and proper recycling.
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Recycling processes
Plastic waste is a significant environmental concern, and plastic recycling is critical to improving the environment and bettering waste management solutions. The recycling process involves collecting, sorting, cleaning, and processing plastic waste into useful products.
Collection is the first step in the recycling process. Plastic recyclers place recycling containers in public places, mostly in commercial and industrial areas. The more plastic collected, the more material there will be for recycling. After collection, the plastics are sorted according to their resin type, either manually or using automated processes, or even by colour or thickness. Sorting is vital as it identifies the correct processes to recycle the plastics.
Once sorted, the plastics are washed to remove impurities such as dirt and organic residue, which may obstruct the recycling process. The whole recycling process is more effective when the plastic is rinsed before it dries. The facility will then pass the plastic through several washing methods depending on the level of contamination.
After washing, the plastics are processed into secondary raw materials or products. Mechanical recycling is the most common approach, where plastic is washed, ground, and melted. Mechanical recycling mechanically transforms the plastic into new materials without changing its chemical structure. Chemical recycling, on the other hand, breaks down the polymers that make up the plastic into monomers to form new polymers to be reused.
Finally, the recycled plastic is used to create useful and functional products, such as clothing, packaging, or even new plastic bottles. Recycling plastic is less time-consuming and cheaper than manufacturing new materials, and it also reduces the need for resources to create new plastics from raw materials.
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Plastic waste trade
The global trade in plastic waste has mirrored the growth in global plastic production, allowing high-income countries to avoid the direct social and environmental impacts of their plastic problem. In 2018, about 8 million metric tons of plastic waste were traded internationally, amounting to around $3.3 billion. The global plastic trade hit a record $1.2 trillion in 2022, with trade in plastics accounting for $1 trillion in 2021.
The plastic waste trade is often referred to as "waste colonialism", highlighting the power imbalance between economically developed countries of the Global North, typically the exporters of waste, and the less affluent nations that serve as recipients. Since 1988, more than a quarter of a billion tons of plastic waste has been exported around the world, with Europe being the biggest exporter and importer. In 2020, Germany was the world's largest exporter of plastic scraps and waste, relying primarily on the Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Turkey, and Malaysia to manage this waste. Asia's largest plastic exports are from Japan, which trades primarily with other Asian countries, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Korea.
In 2016, China was importing more than half of the world's traded plastic waste. However, in 2017, the Chinese government banned the import of most types of plastic waste, resulting in a dramatic decline in the total volume of plastic trade globally. Other countries, mostly in Asia, including Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Turkey, emerged to take China's place as major importers.
The plastic waste trade fuels organized crime, human rights violations, and environmental destruction, with millions of tons of waste dumped in countries ill-equipped to manage it. Criminals exploit regulatory gaps and legal loopholes in the global plastic waste trade, and despite law enforcement efforts, this illegal trade continues to cause severe harm to human health and the environment.
To address these issues, there have been calls for tighter controls on the global trade in plastic waste, including revisions to the European Union's Waste Shipment Regulation to ban plastic waste exports to non-EU countries and introduce stringent measures for intra-EU trade. The Basel Convention, an international treaty signed by 187 nations in 2019, also aims to address gaps in plastic waste disposal and restrict participating nations from trading plastic scraps internationally unless they lack sufficient recycling or disposal capacity.
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Recycling rates
Plastic waste is a critical concern for environmentalists, governments, and organizations worldwide. While recycling rates have increased in almost every country, plastic recycling still has a long way to go compared to the recycling levels of other materials, such as aluminium and glass.
The recycling rates of plastic vary significantly across different regions. For instance, India, Europe, and South Korea have recycling rates higher than 50%, while the United States and China are still working to improve their recycling numbers. The recycling rate in the United States was 8.7% in 2018, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, an NGO report claimed that this rate dropped to around 5% in 2021, which may be partially attributed to the global pandemic. The UK recycles about 17% of its annual plastic waste.
It is challenging to compare global recycling levels due to the varying measurement methods. Some reports measure plastic recycling rates per capita, based on population size, while others use weight or only consider specific types of plastic. Additionally, data accuracy is affected by illegal and unofficial plastic dumping.
The most widely recycled plastic globally is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is commonly found in plastic bottles and jars. PET can be recycled into various products, including fashion items like polar fleece clothing, backpacks, and carpets. It can also be recycled into new bottles, a process that involves blending virgin and recycled PET to create a stronger material. Other easily recyclable plastics include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is accepted at most recycling centres worldwide.
Despite the increasing types of plastic being collected and recycled, certain plastics continue to be sent to landfills, incinerated, or transported abroad for recycling. Some plastics are not recycled because of economic, environmental, and technical challenges. For example, polypropylene recycling is difficult and expensive, and the recycled product often ends up in colours unsuitable for packaging.
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Recycled plastic uses
Plastic is a highly versatile material that can be recycled and used again and again. Recycling plastic helps to reduce the amount that ends up in landfills or polluting the environment. In fact, plastic bottles are one of the few polymers that can be recycled into the same form, with a new beverage bottle made from a blend of virgin and recycled plastic to give strength to the material.
There are seven different types of plastic used around the world, and almost all can be recycled. However, there are several barriers that can make this difficult or costly. For example, some plastics are hard to separate when they contain multiple types or layers, and some are not recycled because it is not financially viable to do so.
Despite these challenges, many products can be made from recycled plastic. PET plastic, which is mostly found in plastic bottles, can be recycled into fashion items such as polar fleece clothing, backpacks, and carpets. Recycled plastic bottles can also be melted and spun into fibres to make carpeting and even clothing. Recycled polypropylene is used to make rugs, mats, park benches, auto parts, and speed bumps. Recycled polyvinyl chloride is suitable for manufacturing resilient and flexible goods such as garden hoses, mud flaps, and traffic cones, as well as rigid items like decking, floor tiles, and plumbing pipes.
In addition to these, affordable kitchenware such as cutting boards, colanders, mixing bowls, and tableware are made from recycled plastic. Some countertops are also made from recycled high-density polyethylene plastic. Even shoes and swimwear are being made from recycled plastic bottles.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastics are recycled at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and Plastic Recovery Facilities (PRFs). MRFs separate plastic from non-plastic materials, and PRFs sort plastic by type.
After being collected from homes, businesses, and local recycling centres, plastic is washed, shredded, and sorted. It is then melted and extruded into new recycled plastic pellets, which are sold to be used in new products.
The most widely recycled plastic in the world is PET, which is mostly found in plastic bottles. Other types of plastic with high recycling rates include HDPE, LDPE, and PP.
