Omar Khalid
Plastic recycling is notoriously ineffective, with only 9% of plastic waste recycled annually. The remaining 91% accumulates in landfills, sloughs off into the natural environment as litter, and ends up in oceans, severely impacting marine life. While plastic is theoretically recyclable, the process of sorting, collecting, transporting, and reprocessing it is expensive, and the resulting product is of lower quality. Plastic also degrades each time it is reused, limiting its reusability. Furthermore, the market for recycled plastic is limited due to the higher cost of recycled material compared to new plastic, which is often subsidized by the oil and gas industries. These factors, combined with the variety of plastic types that are incompatible and challenging to sort, contribute to the ineffectiveness of plastic recycling.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of plastic waste recycled annually | 9% |
| Percentage of plastic packaging ending up in landfills | 85% |
| Percentage of plastic waste recycled in the US in 2021 | 5% |
| Global plastic production by 2060 | Triple |
| Most common types of plastic | PET (#1), HDPE (#2) |
| Least common types of plastic | PVC (#3), LDPE (#4), PP (#5), PS (#6) |
| Plastic waste recycling issues | Expensive, time-consuming, toxic, flammable |
| Plastic bag bans in | Africa, Asia |
| US recycling rate of paper | 68% |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic recycling is not economical
Additionally, the low value of recycled plastic compared to new plastic makes it less economically viable. The production of new plastic is heavily subsidized, with the cost of oil and gas used in production being kept artificially low. This makes it challenging for recycled plastic to compete on price, limiting its market demand. The high cost of recycling plastic is further exacerbated by the low recycling rates, with only 9% of annual plastic waste being recycled globally.
The challenges of plastic recycling are not limited to economic factors. The process of recycling plastic can also have negative environmental impacts, such as toxic emissions and the use of additional chemicals. These issues highlight the need for alternative solutions to address the growing plastic pollution crisis.
Despite the economic and environmental challenges, some advancements in plastic recycling technology have emerged. For example, chemical recycling breaks down plastic into its polymer form, allowing it to be extruded and creating new fibers. However, chemical recycling has faced criticism due to its potential environmental and health risks, similar to those associated with the tobacco industry.
The inefficiencies and challenges associated with plastic recycling have led to a growing movement advocating for a reduction in plastic consumption and the development of more robust recycling programs. Policy solutions such as banning single-use plastics and implementing deposit-return schemes are being proposed to address the issue.
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Plastic degrades each time it is reused
Plastic waste is a significant contributor to global pollution, with only 9% of annual plastic waste being recycled. Plastic is not a natural substance, and its carbon bonds are harder to break down than those of organic matter. As a result, plastic can persist in the environment for long periods, with some estimates of degradation ranging from 10-20 years to 500-1000 years.
The degradation rate of plastic varies depending on the type of plastic and the environmental conditions. For example, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) in the marine environment has a wide range of specific surface degradation rates (SSDRs), resulting in estimated half-lives from 58 years for bottles to 1200 years for pipes. The extrapolation of degradation rates is challenging due to the lack of scientific evidence, and subsequent half-lives may differ significantly from the first half-life.
The persistence of plastic waste is a critical issue, as it can lead to ecological damage and adverse effects on human health. Plastic degradation through biological processes is essential for ecological health, and the feasibility of microbial degradation has gained significant attention. However, the intrinsic composition and properties of plastics, such as durability and resistance to degradation, pose challenges for microbial attachment and enzymatic reactions.
While some plastics are more recyclable than others, such as PET and HDPE, the majority of plastic packaging is produced from incompatible grades of plastic that are costly to sort and recycle. The market for recycled plastics is limited, as the value of the raw material is often lower than the cost of recycling. Additionally, the price of recycled material is affected by factors such as feed material availability and transport costs.
To address the challenges associated with plastic recycling, new universal plastic regulations are being negotiated as part of a global plastics treaty. These regulations aim to streamline the production, use, and reuse of plastics using a circular economy model. However, the success of recycling programs also depends on various factors, including geography, material, market, and machine availability.
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Plastic resin is undercut by cheaper prime material
The market for recycled plastic is limited by the fact that new virgin plastic is often cheaper than recycled material. Virgin plastic is made from oil and gas, which are heavily subsidised fossil fuels. Recycled plastic would be more competitive if these fossil fuel subsidies were phased out. However, companies that produce waste could also help by subsidising plastic recycling schemes under the principle of extended producer responsibility (EPR).
The value of the raw material for harder plastics is lower than the cost of recycling, and the process of sorting through plastic waste is difficult and costly. This means that the demand for raw recycled plastic is slowing. According to Greenpeace, plastic recycling is not economical.
The use of recycled plastic is also limited by the complexity of fabric blends. Some materials, like activewear made of polyester and elastane blends, are particularly tough to recycle. For these, the fabric must be shredded into small pieces that are then used as filler for items like punch bags, yoga cushions, or dog beds.
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Plastic waste is often sent overseas
Wealthy nations, such as those in the European Union and the United States, are the largest exporters of plastic waste. In 2010, the United Kingdom exported nearly one-fifth of its plastic waste, approximately 838,000 tonnes. The United States exported more than 1 million tons of plastic waste annually, with Malaysia being the biggest recipient since China banned the import of most plastic waste in 2017.
However, the plastic waste exported to developing nations often ends up in illegal processing centres or is burned illegally, creating significant risks to the environment and public health. This has led to an increasing number of countries refusing to be "dumping grounds" and shipping back plastic waste to the exporting countries. For instance, Malaysia sent back several containers of contaminated plastic waste to Spain and announced plans to stop importing plastic waste within three years.
To address the global plastic waste crisis, new universal plastic regulations are being negotiated as part of a circular economy model. Additionally, phasing out fossil fuel subsidies and implementing corporate subsidies for plastic recycling schemes could make recycled plastic more competitive.
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Plastic is unlike other materials
Plastics are polymers, which are long chains of carbon atoms, with or without attached oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur atoms. This chemical structure gives plastics their unique characteristics. The most common types of plastics include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, and acrylic. Each of these plastics has distinct properties that make them suitable for different applications. For example, PET is widely used for food and drink packaging due to its ability to prevent oxygen from spoiling the contents, while HDPE is used for products such as grocery bags, milk jugs, and shampoo bottles due to its strength and resistance to impact.
Another way in which plastic differs from other materials is its impact on the environment. While plastic has brought many benefits to mankind, it has also become a significant source of pollution. The slow decomposition rate of plastic in natural ecosystems means that most discarded plastic has not been reused or recycled but has ended up in landfills or as plastic pollution in oceans and other natural environments. Microplastics, in particular, pose a severe threat to ecosystems and human health. Despite efforts to promote recycling, the recycling rates for plastics remain low, with only about 9% of plastics recycled globally.
Furthermore, plastic recycling is challenging due to the many different types of plastics, each with its own unique chemical composition and properties. The seven grades of plastic are largely incompatible with each other, making sorting and recycling costly and difficult. Additionally, the market for recycled plastics is limited as the value of the raw material is often lower than the cost of recycling. The higher price of recycled material compared to virgin plastic, which is cheaper due to fossil fuel subsidies, also hinders the development of a robust recycling market.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic recycling is not economically viable, as collecting, sorting, transporting, and reprocessing plastic waste is extremely expensive. In addition, the demand for recycled plastic is low due to the higher costs compared to virgin plastic, which is made from subsidized fossil fuels.
Plastic is not inert like metal or glass, and can include toxic additives and absorb chemicals, making it unsuitable for recycling into food-grade packaging. Plastic is also flammable, which poses a risk to recycling facilities and the surrounding communities.
According to National Geographic, only about 9% of all plastic ever made has likely been recycled, with the vast majority (79%) ending up in landfills or the environment as litter.
The seven types of plastic include:
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET#1)
- High-density polyethylene (HDPE#2)
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC#3)
- Low-density polyethylene (LDPE#4)
- Polypropylene (PP#5)
- Polystyrene (PS#6)
- Other (may vary by region)
No, different types of plastic must be separated for recycling. For example, PET#1 bottles cannot be recycled with PET#1 clamshells or with green or clear PET#1 bottles. This separation process is costly and time-consuming, further hindering the effectiveness of plastic recycling.
