Sofia Martinez
Plastic recycling is critical to improving the environment and bettering waste management solutions. However, only a small percentage of plastic waste generated globally has been recycled so far, with the vast majority of plastics disposed of in non-environmentally friendly ways. This is due to a multitude of reasons, including the material properties of plastics, the presence of food residues, and the lack of economic incentives for recycling. For instance, thermoset plastics, which make up 25% of plastics, are challenging to recycle because they do not soften when heated. Plastic items contaminated with food residues, such as disposable cups and plates, are also non-recyclable. Additionally, the recycling process is energy-intensive and costly, making it less economically viable than producing new plastic. Furthermore, the market for recycled plastic is limited because manufacturers can only create a restricted range of products with it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic type | Thermoset plastics, bioplastics, composite plastic, plastic-coated wrapping paper, polycarbonate, PE-LD packing foam, plastic films, plastic bags, plastic cups, plastic straws, plastic cutlery, plastic plates, plastic bags, plastic cups, plastic tubes, plastic knives, forks, and spoons |
| Plastic quality | Low-value plastic resins |
| Plastic contamination | Food residues, hazardous substances, medication |
| Plastic properties | Irreversible chemical bonds |
| Plastic recycling | Downcycling, mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, energy-intensive, costly |
| Plastic disposal | Landfills, incineration |
| Plastic production | New plastic is cheap to produce, recycled plastic is expensive |
| Plastic waste management | Limited infrastructure, lack of environmental and public health protection |
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What You'll Learn
Thermoset plastics cannot be recycled because they do not soften with heat
Plastic waste is a major environmental concern, with the vast majority of plastics being disposed of in non-environmentally friendly ways. While plastic recycling is critical to improving waste management, not all plastics are recyclable. The difference in the recyclability of plastic types can be attributed to how they are made. Thermoset plastics, for example, contain polymers that form irreversible chemical bonds and, as a result, cannot be recycled.
The inability to soften with heat poses challenges for recycling. Mechanical recycling, which involves washing, grinding, and melting plastic, is not feasible for thermoset plastics. They are designed to resist melting, making it difficult to reshape them into new products. Chemical recycling, which breaks down plastic into monomers to form new polymers, may also be challenging due to the irreversible chemical bonds present in thermoset materials.
Additionally, thermoset plastics cannot be easily separated or sorted, which is a crucial step in the recycling process. They are often mixed with other materials, such as glass fibres or fillers, creating composite structures that are difficult to dismantle. This contamination prevents them from being effectively recycled and reused.
The non-recyclability of thermoset plastics highlights the importance of responsible plastic usage and disposal. While thermoset plastics have valuable applications, their proper handling and disposal are essential to minimise their environmental impact. It also underscores the need for continued research and development of recyclable alternatives, as well as the promotion of eco-friendly materials that can be effectively recycled or biodegraded.
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Plastic with food residue is usually not recycled
Plastic is a significant contributor to global waste, with 91% of plastic not being recycled. Plastic can take anywhere from 500 to 1000 years to biodegrade, taking up landfill space and polluting the environment for extended periods.
One of the main reasons certain plastics are not recyclable is the way they are made. Thermoset plastics, for example, contain polymers that form irreversible chemical bonds, making them impossible to recycle. On the other hand, thermoplastics, which make up about 75% of global plastics, can be melted and remolded, making them, in theory, recyclable. However, the recycling process for thermoplastics is not always widely available, and only specific types of plastics are accepted for recycling by waste management providers.
Additionally, some plastics are not widely recycled due to economic, environmental, and technical reasons. For instance, thin plastic bags can clog recycling machines if not separated properly, so they are often not accepted for recycling. Other plastics, such as those used for hazardous substances or personal hygiene products, cannot be recycled because they contain residues that are harmful to the environment or because they are made from low-value plastic resins.
Plastic with food residue, such as plastic straws, disposable cups, and Styrofoam takeout containers, is usually not recycled because it is considered heavily contaminated. Food residue can include grease, which prevents the paper fibers from binding during the recycling process, resulting in a poor-quality recycled product. Furthermore, the plastic used for food items is often made from low-value plastic resins, making it less desirable for recycling.
To address the issue of non-recyclable plastics with food residue, consumers can reduce their use of single-use plastics, such as disposable cups and plastic straws, and opt for reusable alternatives instead. Additionally, proper waste segregation and disposal methods can help divert some plastics from landfills, such as returning plastic bags to grocery stores for reuse or repurposing old ceramic containers for new uses.
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Plastic films and bags can clog recycling machinery
Plastic films and bags are lightweight, thin, stretchy, and clingy, which makes them useful for packaging but also means they can tangle machinery and jam sorting machines. This causes operational problems, facility shutdowns, and safety hazards for employees who have to clean them out of the equipment. Plastic films and bags are the number one form of contamination in the recycling stream. When mixed with other recyclables, they can cause the entire load to be unusable for recycling.
Because of these issues, plastic films and bags should not be put in household recycling bins. They should only be put in specific film plastics recycling bins if the material is acceptable. Many grocery and retail stores have these bins available for customers to use. Some local authorities also provide information on where to recycle plastic films and bags.
If you are unable to recycle plastic films and bags, it is better to reuse them if possible. If not, they should be placed in the trash. Putting non-recyclables into a recycling bin is much worse than tossing out a small amount of packaging as it can contaminate the rest of the recyclables.
While plastic films and bags are difficult to recycle without specialized equipment, it is possible to recycle them into new products. The recycling process involves turning the plastic into tiny pellets, which can then be used to make synthetic lumber for decking, park benches, or playground sets. They can also be recycled into another film, pouch, or bag form.
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Plastic hazardous substance containers cannot be recycled
The recyclability of plastic types depends on their composition and manufacturing processes. Thermoplastics, which make up about 75% of global plastic production, can be melted and molded multiple times, making them, in theory, recyclable. On the other hand, thermoset plastics, constituting the remaining 25%, form irreversible chemical bonds and do not soften with heat, making them nearly impossible to recycle. Examples of products using thermoset plastics include electrical insulation, ropes, belts, and pipes.
While thermoset plastics are less commonly recycled due to their durable nature, they are disposed of less frequently, potentially causing less environmental harm relative to thermoplastics. Additionally, the recycling process for thermoplastics is energy-intensive and costly, involving steps like post-consumer selection and washing. The development of advanced recycling technologies, such as chemical recycling, holds promise for recycling plastic types that cannot be mechanically recycled.
It is important to note that the presence of hazardous substances in plastic containers is not limited to those used for personal hygiene, medical, or food-related purposes. Certain types of plastics, such as black plastics, may contain unregulated amounts of toxic chemicals, including heavy metals and flame retardants. These chemicals can pose a significant risk to human health, especially if they leach into food. As a result, black plastics are often not recycled due to the challenges in sorting them using infrared technology at recycling facilities.
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Recycling is costly and energy-intensive
Plastic recycling is an energy-intensive process that becomes more costly as additional steps are added. The new plastic is still relatively cheap to produce, creating a competitive environment where added costs to the process make recycled plastic significantly more expensive. In countries with high electricity prices, it might be more profitable to incinerate plastic rather than recycle it.
The long polymer chains that make up plastic materials become slightly shorter each time they are melted down. This means that plastic recycling usually amounts to downcycling, creating products with less stringent technical or aesthetic qualities. For example, a food-grade plastic beverage bottle might be recycled into a fleece garment or components for a park bench. Manufacturers cannot make many products with recycled plastic, so the market for it is limited.
The variety of plastic types and packaging further complicates the recycling process. Even within a single category, different packaging types do not have the same physical and chemical properties and will not recycle equally. Plastic films, plastic wrapping, and thin plastic bags can clog processing machinery if collected with larger, heavier, and more rigid plastics. This can contaminate entire loads of recyclable plastic, which then risks being sent to landfills.
The numbers attributed to plastics are the plastic resin codes, which show what type of plastic a product is. The general rule of thumb is that the lower the resin code, the more likely the plastic is to be easily recyclable. However, the number on a package can be misleading, as it is a manufacturing trick to make plastics appear recyclable when they are not.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many reasons why certain plastics are non-recyclable. Firstly, not all plastics are widely recyclable, and burning plastics releases harmful gases, which is not an eco-friendly disposal solution. Secondly, plastic waste is sorted according to its resin type, and only certain types are widely collected and recycled. Lastly, some plastics are non-recyclable due to their material properties; for example, thermoset plastics do not soften when exposed to heat, making them nearly impossible to recycle.
Plastic straws, cups, and cutlery are considered non-recyclable because they are heavily contaminated with food and are made from low-value plastic resins.
Plastic bags are not recyclable because they can clog processing machinery if collected with larger, heavier, and more rigid plastics.
