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The Plastic
Recycling Chain
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The Plastic Recycling Chain:
A Team Effort
We all want to recycle more plastic.
Rather than using fossil resources to make new plastic, recycling used plastic:
- conserves natural resources,
- saves energy,
- reduces greenhouse gas emissions,
- contributes to the economy and
- creates jobs.
And it helps keep plastic waste out of the environment.
Recycling is a key component of creating a circular economy for plastic, in which used plastic is reused instead of discarded.
A Team Effort
But how does plastic recycling actually work?
Plastic recycling is not that complicated, but it does take a team effort to succeed.
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.
In reality, there is no start or finish to the plastic recycling chain… just as there is no start or finish to a circle.
But, if one player in the chain stops playing, the chain breaks. The virtuous circle is broken.
NOTE: Some companies play more than one role in the plastic recycling chain. For example, some Plastic Makers also are Re-Processors, and some Collectors also are Sorters.
The Plastic
Recycling Chain
Plastic Makers:
Companies that make plastic for products and packaging
Role: Help Converters by using recycled content in new plastic materials
Plastic makers use materials from re-processors to create recycled plastic for Converters. Plastic makers often blend recycled plastic with virgin plastic and/or use recycled feedstocks to make recycled plastic.
Converters:
Companies that use recycled plastic to make products and packaging
Role: Help Product Companies & Retailers by making products & packaging from recycled plastic
Converters use recycled plastic to make everything from auto parts to food packaging. This helps their customers – Products Companies & Retailers – meet recycling/sustainability goals.
Product
Companies & Retailers:
Companies that sell products and packaging to Consumers
Role: Enable Consumers by selling plastic products and packaging that are designed for recycling
Product Companies & Retailers collaborate with Plastic Material Makers and Converters to design products and packaging that are accepted in recycling programs… so Consumers can play their role.
Consumers:
People and companies who buy stuff
Role: Help Collectors by putting plastic products & packaging in recycling bins
Shoes, packaging, cars, toys, clothing… are typically made with plastic. When available, Consumers – people and companies – should return used plastic items or put specified items in recycling/collection bins.
Collectors:
Companies that collect plastic for recycling
Role: Help Sorters by collecting plastic products & packaging
Collectors (or haulers) pick up and consolidate used plastic items that consumers return or put in recycling bins. Collectors typically collect a specified set of plastic items… not everything at this point.
Sorters:
Companies that divvy up plastic for recycling
Role: Enable Re-processors by sorting plastic
It’s often necessary to sort plastic by type before re-processing. Sorters are using/developing innovative technologies and systems to sort plastic more efficiently and effectively.
Re-processors:
Companies that mechanically or chemically re-process plastic
Role: Help Plastic Makers and Converters by creating recycled plastic or “feedstocks” for new manufacturing
Re-processors convert collected/sorted plastic into either recycled plastic or the feedstocks (raw materials) used to make recycled plastic.
The Plastic
Recycling Chain
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The Plastic
Recycling Chain
The Plastic
Recycling Chain
Consumers:
People and companies who buy stuff
The Plastic
Recycling Chain
Collectors:
Companies that collect plastic for recycling
The Plastic
Recycling Chain
Sorters:
Companies that divvy up plastic for recycling
The Plastic
Recycling Chain
Re-processors:
Companies that mechanically or chemically re-process plastic
The Plastic
Recycling Chain
Plastic Makers:
Companies that make plastic for products and packaging
The Plastic
Recycling Chain
Converters:
Companies that use recycled plastic to make products and packaging
The Plastic
Recycling Chain
Product
Companies & Retailers:
Companies that sell products and packaging to Consumers
It’s a circle/chain that never begins and never ends. As long as all players do their part.
As you can see, all these players need to work together to enable each other. And they all need to significantly ramp up their game! Every one of these players can do more to help create a more circular economy for plastic.
It’s a team effort!
Info on how Plastic Makers are doing more to help create a circular economy for plastic here.
Info on how to strengthen the plastic recycling chain here.
Question: Which player is the actual “recycler” in the Plastic Recycling Chain?
Answer: All players are recyclers because recycling is a chain of actions.
(Although some people say that re-processors are the actual recyclers.)
