1.4.4 Barriers to (Closed Loop) Plastics Recycling
Course subject(s)
Module 1 Design for Recycling at a Systems Level
We have learned about the need for closed loop plastics recycling. Yet, to create a circular economy for plastics, we will first have to overcome several practical and strategic challenges to waste plastics collection, reprocessing and manufacturing with recycled materials.
What stands in the way of plastics recycling?
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Main takeaways
- Underdeveloped collection infrastructure and low collection rates lead to insufficient supplies of plastic waste.
- The demand for recycled plastics remains relatively low, which hinders improvements in recycling processes and technologies.
- Limitations in plastic sorting and reprocessing technologies influence the recycling volumes of plastics.
- The application of recycled plastics can be challenging because of the lack of standardisation of recycled grades leading to varying properties and qualities.