Advanced recycling can help us recycle a lot more plastics
Here’s how we plan to do it
Today’s recycling systems can recover some used plastic. But not anywhere near enough.
That’s what makes burgeoning private investments in new recycling technologies so exciting.
These technologies can dramatically increase the types and amount of plastic that can be recycled.
Which reduces the need for fossil resources and keeps plastic out of landfills. And our environment.
It’s called advanced recycling.
These technologies turn used solid plastic into its gas or liquid raw materials to be remade into brand new plastic for use in virtually any plastic product or packaging.
More than 90% of plastics aren’t being recycled. America’s plastic makers are investing in new technologies to change that. Advanced recycling is a breakthrough for reclaiming used plastics.
Here are five things you need to know about advanced recycling. Many people in the industry use the term “advanced recycling.” It means taking plastics back to their molecular form so they can be reprocessed into new products. Every week you take your trash and put it out at the curb. Imagine if that litter were dollar bills — you’d pick it up. That’s what we’re doing. We’re creating value for something that has no value.
Not all used plastic can go through the mechanical recycling process. That’s what’s really exciting about advanced recycling — it allows you to address hard-to-recycle plastics that can’t be recycled today. Advanced recycling is going to help eliminate plastic waste that currently goes to landfills, so we can use fewer natural resources in our products.
In the next 10 years, advanced recycling will have a strong foothold in the industry. It’s clearly the future. If you want to make a real dent in plastic recycling, advanced recycling is one of the top ways to do it — along with having good infrastructure.
Learn more about new technologies changing how we recycle, reuse, and remake plastics.
The plastics recycling industry is investing billions of dollars in these technologies and has launched dozens of projects designed to divert millions of tons of used plastic per year from landfills.
Multiple large consumer product companies already create packaging using recycled plastics created by these technologies. And they are clamoring for more to meet sustainability goals.
Hundreds of companies have committed to make more of their packaging recyclable and to use more recycled content. For more info, visit U.S. Plastics Pact.
Advanced recycling can help these companies meet their sustainability goals.
Watch some of the people making sustainable change by helping bring advanced recycling technologies to life.
Meet Jeremy: The Disruptor
As President of Alterra, he’s deploying new technologies to recycle previously difficult-to-recycle plastic, again and again.
Meet Natalie: The Finder
Natalie specializes in finding used plastics to remake into new plastics, many of which had previously been difficult to recycle.
What’s needed to make plastic recycling work better? A team effort.
To recycle plastic, an interwoven chain of players must work in concert. The plastic recycling chain can be viewed as a virtuous circle, in which each player enables the next.
LEARN MORE About Advanced Recycling
Take a deeper dive and learn more about how advanced recycling can tackle the 90% of plastics that aren’t recycled today.
Fact Sheets
The following series illustrates how advanced recycling turns used plastic into new plastic and provides more information about the environmental profile of this new manufacturing technology.
Insights
Find out what’s happening in Advanced Recycling and how we’re making sustainable change.
Podcasts
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Episode 20
The Next Generation of Women Reshaping Plastics
Monika Kleczek, E-Commerce Market Manager, NOVA Chemicals, Angie Johnson, Environmental Health and Safety Manager, Alterra and Maria, Process Engineer, AlterraMaking sustainable change comes from discovering your purpose and passion. Hear from trailblazing women on how they found their north star working on plastics sustainability and are now helping shape a brighter future.
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Episode 19
Keeping Communities Connected
Dr. Rennisha Wickham, Senior Marketing Manager, Dow and Kyle Fleming, Director of the Virgin Islands Energy Office and Water and Power Authority (WAPA) Board ChairmanUnlocking greater opportunities for global connectivity and sustainability with Dr. Rennisha Wickham of Dow and Kyle Fleming of the Virgin Islands Energy Office.
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Episode 18
The New Age of Recycling
Rob Writz, Director, Business Development, AMP Robotics and Craig Cookson, Senior Director, Plastics Sustainability at American Chemistry CouncilRobotics, Advanced Technologies Revolutionize Plastics Recycling
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Episode 17
The Change Maker Next Door
Dell, Senior TS&D Scientist, Dow, Kait, Technical Service Representative, Covestro, Natalie, Value Business Manager, ExxonMobil, Raul, Senior Manager, Reaction Engineering, Technology and Innovation, SABIC and Kate, Sustainability Specialist, SABICSustainable change starts with the ideas and passions of dedicated people. Hear America’s Change Makers – working with modern plastics to solve some of the world’s toughest challenges and create a more sustainable future.
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Episode 16
Leadership in Sustainability
Rob Westervelt, Editor-in-Chief, Chemical Week and Monica Ellis, CEO and Founder, Global Environmental Technology FoundationChemical Week’s Rob Westervelt and Global Environmental Technology Foundation's Monica Ellis highlight outstanding innovations in sustainability that are helping build the circular economy.