Plastic recycling remains a 'myth': Greenpeace study
For an organization that should supposedly <i>promote</i> recycling, I think this takes an regrettably gloomy POV. My local newspaper did an article recently on plastic recycling in my home city. Most households already recycle their plastics and plastic recycling containers will be mandated by law for all multi-family dwellings from the start of 2023. The recycling rate for single-use plastic packages is at 41%, which means we are well on our way to the target of 50% by 2025. The recycling rate for plastic beverage bottles is even higher due to a deposit system (0.15€ per bottle redeemable at automatic deposit collection machines at any grocery store.)<p>After recycling, the plastic still needs to be sorted by its chemical variety. This is done fully automatically using an optical sensor and compressed air. The success rate of the sorting phase has been optimized in co-operation with plastic packaging manufacturers (plastics that are dyed black are more problematic for the sorting process.)<p>And there is certainly consumer demand for recycled plastics even if it&#x27;s more expensive than pristine plastic. Using recycled source material allows companies to brand the end product as more ecofriendly. The recycling plant that processes the plastics for my city is already operating at fully capacity, able to sell 100% of their output and looking to expand.<p>The end product of the recycling process are small plastic granules that can be used just like pristine plastic to make new plastic products. Only limitation is the granules are not food-grade, but then again there are <i>tons</i> of non-food plastic products. Also, if there is ever lack of demand for the recycled plastic it is possible to ban the use of pristine plastic for certain products to increase demand. But as said, currently the organic consumer demand for recycled plastic products already surpasses production capacity.<p>Commercial link: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.fortum.com&#x2F;products-and-services&#x2F;recycling-waste&#x2F;fortum-circo" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.fortum.com&#x2F;products-and-services&#x2F;recycling-waste...</a>