Plastic has long been an ecological problem. But emerging technologies and more awareness could make the ubiquitous material part of a circular economy.
. Yet the most widely used plastics persist in landfill sites or the environment for decades or even centuries after being thrown away.
A prototype sorting unit tested by the smart-packaging initiative HolyGrail 2.0 could improve the separation of plastic waste.In high-income countries, this sorting usually happens with the help of high-tech machines at large-scale recycling facilities. These facilities typically target the most commonly used plastic types, especially polyethylene terephthalate , high-density polyethylene , and sometimes low-density polyethylene and polypropylene .
To streamline mechanical recycling and improve the quality of secondary plastics, some researchers are working to develop chemicals called compatibilizers, which help different types of plastic to mix together evenly when they are melted down. “This is an old field, but the idea of applying it to recycling has gained a lot of traction more recently,” says Megan Robertson, a chemical engineer at the University of Houston in Texas.
. Most of the estimated 13 million tonnes of plastic that enters the oceans annually comes from areas with inadequate waste management.Nevertheless, a surprising amount of plastic recycling happens in low- and middle-income countries. In these places, recycling tends to be part of the informal economy. Waste pickers sift through landfill sites and bins and collect plastic from the environment.
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