New Report on Plastics Recycling

According to a recent report, published by the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) – a non-profit organization that serves as a public policy think tank in the USA – advanced recycling could increase plastic recycling. Expanding the activities at existing oil refineries and new standalone facilities nationwide could more than double the plastic recycling rates.

As reported, “The Waste Diversion Benefits of Expanding Advanced Recycling” outlines how traditional mechanical recycling is limited due to its inability to recycle “flexible plastics”. Advanced recycling, which uses chemical processes like pyrolysis to break plastics down to the molecular level, can fill the gap and convert plastic waste into raw materials that can be used to make new products. “Scaling up advanced recycling efforts will lead to significant environmental and economic benefits,” the author Stuart Malec, PPI’s Vice President of Public Affairs, was quoted. “Increasing the amount of plastic waste that can be successfully recycled will not only benefit the planet, but will also collectively save communities across the country millions of dollars in their waste disposal budgets.”

Key findings from the report include:

Short-term deployment of advanced recycling could raise the nationwide plastic recycling rate from nine to 19 percent while potentially reaching 23 percent in the long-term.
Local municipalities could save between 229.7 million and 327.5 million US-Dollar per year in avoided landfill tipping fees, defined as charges per ton to dispose of waste.
States with historically low recycling rates can use existing oil refineries to implement advanced recycling technology, raising their landfill diversion rates.

While advanced recycling can curb dangerous environmental effects and benefit local economies, Malec argues that there needs to be a regulatory framework that strengthens economic incentives to collect plastic waste. “Clear policy is essential for this innovative technology to achieve its full potential in waste diversion and economic impact,” he is convinced. “Without a clear policy framework, more and more plastic waste will continue ending up in landfills instead of being reused in the economy.”