Sofia Martinez
Black plastic is commonly used for food packaging, especially for microwave meals, as it makes food look more appealing and hides imperfections. However, despite being theoretically recyclable, black plastic is difficult to recycle because it cannot be identified by automatic optical sorting systems in most recycling plants. This is because black plastic is coloured using carbon black pigments, which do not enable the packaging to be sorted using Near Infra-Red (NIR) technology, the most common method for recycling plastics. As a result, black plastic often ends up in landfills or is incinerated, contributing to plastic pollution.
Why is black plastic difficult to recycle?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sorting | Black plastic cannot be identified by automatic sorting machines as it does not reflect light and cannot be seen by optical scanners. |
| Composition | Black plastic is coloured using carbon black pigments which do not enable the pack to be sorted using Near Infra-Red (NIR) technology widely used in plastics recycling. |
| Environmental impact | Black plastic ends up in landfill or is incinerated. |
| Alternatives | Clear plastic can be recycled back into clear plastic or coloured plastic. |
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What You'll Learn
Sorting systems can't identify black plastic
Sorting systems are unable to identify black plastic due to the method used to colour it. Black plastic reflects only small amounts of light, and conventional sorting systems rely on near-infrared (NIR) spectrometers that measure light reflected off the plastic surface to determine the material's composition. However, carbon black, a pigment used in black plastics, absorbs almost all NIR signals, preventing the spectrometers from capturing the necessary data to identify the plastic type. As a result, black plastics often end up in landfills or are burned instead of being recycled, contributing to environmental and health risks.
To address this challenge, alternative technologies have emerged to identify black plastics effectively. One approach is mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy, which uses a different portion of the infrared spectrum, allowing it to penetrate the surface and interact with the chemical bonds of the material. MIR technology is more effective at identifying black plastics because it is not absorbed by black plastics to the same degree as NIR light, enabling color-neutral plastic identification.
Another potential solution is X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology, which uses X-rays to determine the elemental composition of a material. XRF technology can differentiate between a wide range of materials, including black plastics, and is fast and accurate. However, it is expensive and typically used for metals, limiting its broader use in plastics recycling.
Additionally, visual sorting with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning has been explored. This method combines visual imaging technology with AI to learn the characteristics of black plastics and identify them accurately. While this approach shows promise, it is still being developed and may not yet be widely available.
The inability of sorting systems to identify black plastic has led to calls for a ban on this hard-to-process material. Greenpeace UK, for example, has advocated for a ban on black plastic and other "problem plastics" by the end of 2019, arguing that these materials are difficult or impossible to recycle and contribute to plastic pollution in rivers, oceans, and landfills.
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Black plastic is hard to collect in large volumes
The difficulty in recycling black plastic lies in the fact that it cannot be identified by automatic sorting machines. These machines use optical scanners that rely on the reflection of light to identify and sort different types of plastics. However, black plastic does not reflect light due to the carbon black pigments used in its colouring. As a result, it goes undetected by the scanners and cannot be separated from other materials during the recycling process.
The inability of optical scanners to recognise black plastic means that products made with it usually reach the end of the processing line as 'residue'. Consequently, these items are sent directly to landfill or incineration instead of being properly recycled. This issue is not limited to black plastic packaging but also extends to black plastic plant pots commonly used in gardening.
To address this problem, some companies have started replacing traditional black plastic plant pots with taupe-coloured pots, which are a greyish-brown colour. These taupe pots can be easily identified as recyclable by the machines that sort through domestic waste. Additionally, organisations like WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) have been working with retailers to find solutions, including the development of detectable black pigments that can be sorted using Near Infra-Red (NIR) technology.
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Black plastic is often used for packaging
Black plastic is also used as a marketing ploy because it makes food look nicer. However, it cannot be identified by automatic sorting machines and therefore is not currently recycled. As a result, black plastic packaging often ends up as residue and is disposed of in landfill or incinerated.
The UK Plastics Pact aims for the majority of black plastic to be produced using detectable black pigments and widely sorted for recycling. WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) encourages packaging specifiers and manufacturers to use detectable colourants when colouring plastic packaging. This would allow black plastic to be sorted using NIR technology.
In the meantime, consumers are encouraged to reduce and reuse rather than recycle. For example, investing in a sandwich tin or reusable wrappers is a better option than using single-use black plastic packaging.
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Black plastic is hard to process
The method used to colour black plastic is the reason it cannot be recognised by optical sorting systems. Black plastic is typically coloured using carbon black pigments, which do not enable the packaging to be sorted using Near Infra-Red (NIR) technology, widely used in plastics recycling. Therefore, black plastic packaging often ends up as residue and is disposed of in landfill or incinerated.
Some companies have started to address this issue by replacing black plastic with other colours that can be more easily recycled. For example, plant pots, which traditionally used black plastic, are now being produced in taupe, a greyish-brown colour. The new colour can be easily identified as recyclable by the machines that sort through domestic waste.
WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme), under The UK Plastics Pact, has requested that any members using black plastic switch to using detectable black pigments by the end of 2019. This would allow black plastic to be sorted for recycling. However, creating a new recycling system that can distinguish black plastic would take significant time and money.
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Black plastic is not recognised by optical scanners
Black plastic is commonly used for food packaging because it makes food look more appealing and can mask colours or imperfections. However, despite being theoretically recyclable, it is rarely recycled in practice. This is because black plastic is not recognised by optical scanners, which are used to sort plastic items in recycling plants. Optical scanners identify different types of plastics by detecting the reflection of light off their surfaces. However, black plastic does not reflect light due to the carbon black pigments used to colour it. As a result, the scanners cannot detect black plastic, and it passes through the recycling process as 'residue', ultimately ending up in landfills or being incinerated.
The inability of optical scanners to recognise black plastic has significant environmental implications. Black plastic contributes to plastic pollution, ending up in rivers, oceans, and landfills. Given the challenges of recycling black plastic, Greenpeace UK has advocated for banning this material and other "problem plastics". They argue that these plastics are difficult or impossible to recycle and toxic to the environment, making it imperative to replace them with readily available alternatives.
To address the issue of black plastic not being recognised by optical scanners, some companies have taken initiatives. For example, nurseries and plastic plant pot manufacturers in the Midlands have introduced taupe-coloured pots, which are a greyish-brown shade. These pots effectively protect plant roots from light while being easily identifiable by recycling machines, ensuring they can be recycled.
WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme) has also developed guidance for packaging specifiers, manufacturers, and recyclers to improve the recyclability of black plastic. They encourage the use of detectable colourants and aim for most black plastic to be produced with detectable black pigments. This would allow black plastic to be sorted and recycled using Near Infra-Red (NIR) technology, commonly used in plastics recycling. However, creating a new recycling system capable of sorting black plastic would require significant time and financial investments.
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Frequently asked questions
Black plastic is difficult to recycle because it cannot be identified by automatic sorting machines. Optical scanners used in recycling plants use reflected light to identify and sort plastics, but black plastic absorbs light and hence cannot be recognised by these machines.
Since black plastic cannot be recognised by optical sorting systems, it usually ends up as 'residue' at the end of the processing line. This means that it goes straight to landfill or gets incinerated.
The UK Plastics Pact aims for most black plastic to be produced using detectable black pigments that can be sorted using Near Infra-Red (NIR) technology. Alternatively, a ban on black plastic and other "problem plastics" can be enforced, with alternatives already available.
