Extruded opaque sheet of thermoplastic from printed film scrap (left) and translucent sheet produced through a supercritical CO2 extrusion process. | Courtesy of AIMPLAS
A form of pressurized carbon dioxide can be used to remove contaminants from post-consumer plastic melt, improving the quality of the final pellets, according to a research organization.
Plastic bale wrap used to store livestock feed, such as silage, is now being collected for recycling through a Cleanfarms pilot program. | Photo courtesy of Cleanfarms
An analysis of agricultural plastic recycling in Canada found that there’s plenty of room for growth.
Under the review program, products will be analyzed for their technical compatibility with current recycling processes. | ShutterOK / Shutterstock
The Association of Plastic Recyclers is launching an initiative to further recognize brands and others that are innovating in line with current plastics recycling capabilities.
Google’s report noted headwinds to plastics recovery including unfavorable economics for recycled resins compared with virgin resins. | maciej nicgorski / Shutterstock
A report from Google lays out how mechanical and chemical recycling, a virgin plastic production tax, consumer incentives and more can increase plastics recovery over the next two decades.
A study from GAIA found that, in five selected cities, only 24% of PET, HDPE and PP was getting recycled. | Meg Wallace Photography / Shutterstock
A study published today by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives outlines familiar problems and constraints with the U.S. plastics recycling system.
The latest issue of Science discusses mechanical and chemical recycling, global policy and more. | qvist / Shutterstock
Science Magazine has published a special edition covering various facets of the global plastic pollution problem. Articles touch on efforts to reduce the amount of material ending up in the environment as well as advancements (and shortcomings) in recycling.
Data shows that the U.S. PET bottle recycling rate in 2019 was 27.9%, down from 29.0% in 2018. | TeuNg-StyLe / Shutterstock
Slightly less scrap plastic from the U.S. was recycled in 2019 than the year prior. The data comes as brand owners signal greater demand for recycled resins.
Chemist Max Delferro holds high-quality liquid product obtained by treating plastic bags with a new catalytic process. | Image courtesy of Mark Lopez and Argonne National Laboratory.
For one scientist at Argonne National Laboratory, moving the needle on plastic recovery is analogous to stopping the spread of COVID-19. In both cases, many minds must come together.
Millions of dollars are available to redesign multi-layer films to make them recyclable or biodegradable. | Natykach Nataliia / Shutterstock
The U.S. government will provide up to $14.5 million to support R&D focused on single-use film packaging recycling.
Researchers estimate over 74 billion PET bottles were landfilled, burned or littered in the U.S. in 2019. | Teerasak Ladnongkhun / Shutterstock
This story has been updated and corrected.
A new report estimates that a nationwide bottle deposit program would reduce the number of drink containers each American wastes to 67 per year, down from 426 under the status quo.