Omar Khalid
In North Carolina, recyclables are taken to one of 17 materials recovery facilities (MRFs) in the state, where they are sorted by people and machinery into separate commodities of metal, plastic, cardboard, paper, and glass. These commodities are then purchased by recyclers and prepared for manufacturing. For example, plastic is washed, chipped, and melted into pellets, while metals are melted in a furnace to make new blocks or sheets. Orange County, NC, collects large rigid plastics for recycling at Waste & Recycling Centers, and sells the rigid plastics to a market located in North Carolina.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Where does recycling go? | One of 17 materials recovery facilities (MRFs) in the state. |
| Who runs the MRFs? | Private companies that contract with local governments. |
| What happens to the recyclables? | Sorted, cleaned, broken down, and combined in large quantities to be sold on commodities markets. |
| What happens to glass? | Glass is crushed into tiny shards called cullet and then color-separated. |
| What happens to plastic? | Plastic is washed, chipped, and melted into pellets to be modeled. |
| What happens to paper? | Mixed paper is poured into an industrial blender to make new paper pulp. |
| What happens to electronics? | Powerhouse Recycling in Salisbury, NC, recycles used electronics. Computers are shredded and broken down into steel, plastic, and precious metal circuit boards. |
| What happens to rigid plastics? | Rigid plastics are recycled to make new plastic products like pots, buckets, and pipes. |
| What happens to plastic bottles? | UNIFI turns plastic bottles into yarn at their REPREVE manufacturing facility in Yadkinville. |
| What happens to plastic bottle preforms? | Southeastern Container manufactures recycled PET plastic bottles for Coca-Cola at their Enka facility. |
| What happens to contaminated recyclables? | 17% of recyclables in North Carolina are contaminated and end up in landfills. |
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What You'll Learn
Orange County's 'Glass On The Side' program
Orange County, North Carolina, has a 'Glass On The Side' (GOTS) program to separate glass for recycling at all waste and recycling centers and drop-off sites in the county. The program was implemented in November 2019 to increase savings and efficiency by separating glass bottles and jars from other recyclables.
The county previously paid an average of $105 for each ton of mixed recyclables delivered to the Material Recovery Facility in Raleigh, where recyclables are sorted and sold. However, by separating glass, the county now receives $20 per ton from a glass processor in Wilson, North Carolina, that cleans and colour-separates the glass for reuse. As of May 2020, over 500 tons of glass have been recycled through the GOTS program.
The GOTS program has expanded to all four 24-hour recycling drop-off sites in the county, and new dumpsters have been installed at the Eubanks Road and Ferguson Road Waste and Recycling Centers. Residents are asked to separate glass bottles and jars from plastic bottles, metal cans, and paper, and to only bring glass recyclables to the recycling center if they are already planning to be nearby. Glass can still be recycled in the blue cart at home for curbside pickup.
It is important to note that only glass bottles and jars are accepted in the GOTS program. Cookware, light bulbs, mirrors, windows, drinking glasses, and ceramics are not accepted. Additionally, glass recyclables should not be placed in bags. If glass is brought to the recycling center in a paper or plastic bag, the contents should be emptied into the dumpster, and the bag should be disposed of appropriately. Paper bags can be recycled with mixed recyclables, while plastic bags must be recycled separately at grocery stores or waste and recycling centers.
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How plastics are recycled
Plastic is one of the most popular and useful materials of modern times, with 300 million tonnes produced yearly. However, it is important to note that most plastic items collected for recycling are not actually recycled. Plastic is not designed to be recycled, and the recycling that does occur makes up a very small share of the global waste market. A growing number of plastics are sent to incinerators or landfills, which release toxic chemicals and contribute to climate change.
In North Carolina, recyclables are taken to a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) where people and machinery sort the materials into "commodities" of metal, plastic, cardboard, paper, and glass. These commodities are then purchased by recyclers who prepare them for manufacturing. Plastic, specifically, is washed, chipped, shredded, and melted into pellets, which are then sold to be moulded into new products.
Recycling processes vary by facility, but they generally involve a combination of manual and mechanical sorting techniques. For example, a ballistic separator is a mechanical device that separates rigid items (bottles, containers, cans) from flexible items (paper, card, plastic wrapping). Optical sorters can distinguish between different types of plastics. After sorting, the plastic is washed, shredded, and sorted again before being melted and extruded into new plastic pellets.
In Orange County, NC, residents can recycle glass through the 'Glass On The Side' (GOTS) program, which offers separate recycling for glass bottles and jars at all waste and recycling centers. The County also collects large rigid plastics at Waste & Recycling Centers, which are then sold to a market in North Carolina for use in new plastic products. Southeastern Container, a manufacturer in North Carolina, uses recycled content ranging from 15-100% to make new plastic bottles for Coca-Cola.
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Coca-Cola's use of recycled plastic
Coca-Cola has long been associated with environmentally conscious practices, with the company donating to recycling nonprofits and promoting its efforts to increase the recyclability of its plastic bottles. However, recent reports suggest that Coca-Cola, one of the top global polluters, has quietly dropped its reuse targets and decreased its plastic recycling goals.
In 2018, Coca-Cola launched its "World Without Waste" initiative, setting ambitious goals such as 50% recycled materials by 2030 and 100% recyclable packaging by 2025. However, in a recent announcement, the company has "evolved" its goals, now aiming for 30-35% recycled plastic in its bottles by 2035 and partnering to collect 70-75% of the equivalent number of bottles and cans produced annually. This shift in targets has been criticized by environmental groups, who argue that Coca-Cola's focus on recycling goals does little to address the plastic crisis, especially considering that its plastic bottles, caps, and wrappers are the most commonly found branded plastic pollution.
Despite the criticism, Coca-Cola maintains that recyclable plastic is a crucial step in its sustainability journey. The company has transitioned to using bottles made from 100% recycled plastic for select brands, including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coke Zero Sugar, Fanta, and Sprite. This move is expected to reduce the use of new plastic by over 20% compared to 2018. Additionally, Coca-Cola is partnering with Diageo's Pulpex Limited initiative to develop and scale paper bottles for its beverages.
Coca-Cola's head of sustainability, Bea Perez, has stated that the company will not stop using plastic, citing consumer preference for resealable and lightweight packaging. However, critics argue that Coca-Cola has shifted the cost of waste management from itself to municipal recycling programs, highlighting the company's obstruction of a deposit-refund plan for plastic bottles that resulted in an 81% return rate.
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The impact of contamination
In response to these changes, North Carolina's Recycling and Materials Management Section (RMMS) has taken steps to address contamination issues. They have prioritized projects that aim to produce cleaner, higher-quality recyclables and expand local markets for recycled materials. Grants have been awarded to companies for equipment upgrades, such as a glass clean-up system to reduce contamination and increase the value of recyclable materials.
Contamination in plastic recycling can have several negative consequences. Firstly, it can decrease the value of recyclable materials, making them less attractive to manufacturers and recyclers. This can lead to financial losses for recycling companies and local governments who bear the cost of processing fees. Secondly, high contamination rates can result in recyclable materials being rejected by processors, leading to increased waste and a less efficient material supply chain.
Additionally, contamination can pose environmental and health risks. For example, the Braven Environmental facility in Zebulon, North Carolina, was found to have potentially endangered human health and the environment through "significant noncompliance" with hazardous waste management regulations. The company's pyrolysis oil, a product of plastic pyrolysis technology, was disposed of as highly toxic waste instead of being converted into useful plastic or fuel. This highlights the potential dangers of chemical recycling, which environmentalists argue is a form of greenwashing that releases air pollutants and incinerates carcinogens and neurotoxicants.
To mitigate the impact of contamination, it is crucial for residents and businesses in North Carolina to follow proper recycling guidelines. This includes separating different types of recyclables, such as glass through Orange County's 'Glass On The Side' (GOTS) program, and ensuring that only acceptable items are placed in recycling bins. By reducing contamination, North Carolina can improve the efficiency and sustainability of its plastic recycling processes, as seen in the recycling of rigid plastics to create new products like plastic pots, buckets, and pipes.
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The NC Managing Environmental Waste Act
The act also modifies the definition of single-use plastic to refer to non-recyclable and non-compostable single-use disposable products used by food providers for serving or transporting prepared, ready-to-consume food or beverages. This includes plastic or polystyrene plates, cups, bowls, trays, utensils, straws, cup lids, and hinged or lidded containers. As part of its study, the commission must also explore new technologies for plastics recycling and waste reduction.
The act also amends the distribution of proceeds collected from the solid waste disposal tax, with 32.5% credited or distributed to cities and counties that provide solid waste management programs and services, and an additional 5% going to those that provide plastics recycling services within their jurisdictions. These funds are restricted to programs and services for plastics recycling and single-use plastics waste reduction.
In terms of the practicalities of plastic recycling in North Carolina, recyclables are taken to a material recovery facility (MRF) where they are sorted into separate "commodities" of metal, plastic, cardboard, paper, and glass. These commodities are then purchased by recyclers who prepare them for manufacturing. For example, plastic is washed, chipped, and melted into pellets, metals are melted in a furnace to make new blocks or sheets, and paper and cardboard are added to a pulper and made into new rolls of paper. These recycled materials are then used by manufacturers to create new products.
Some specific examples of plastic recycling in North Carolina include the REPREVE manufacturing facility in Yadkinville, which turns plastic bottles into yarn, and Powerhouse Recycling in Salisbury, which works with local governments and businesses to recycle used electronics such as computers. Orange County also collects large rigid plastics for recycling at Waste & Recycling Centers, and sells the rigid plastics to a market located in North Carolina for use in products such as plastic pots, buckets, and pipes.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, throwing plastic bottles into the trash is illegal in North Carolina.
The North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 1465 during its 2005 legislative session, banning plastic bottles from disposal effective October 1, 2009.
Recycled plastic bottles can be transformed into new bottles or completely different products, such as carpets, lumber, clothing, or other types of containers.
Over 15,000 people are employed in the recycling industry in North Carolina, and these companies have annual sales of more than $4 billion.
Yes, organizations like R.A.W. Plastics in Greenville, North Carolina, aim to tackle plastic pollution through community engagement, education, and local clean-up events. They collect plastic waste, process it, and repurpose it into multiple-use plastic products.
