Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Source: https://www.thebalance.com
For the last 50 years, plastic consumption has continued to increase as this amazing
versatile and low cost material continues to excel at countless new applications,
ranging from improving food safety and distribution efficiency to helping to create
lighter, more fuel efficient vehicles. Unfortunately, our collective ability to effectively
recycle this material has lagged.
In 2013, some 299 million tons of plastic were produced worldwide, according to the
Worldwatch Institute, as plastic continues to replace over materials, notably metal
and glass. . In the years between 1950 and 2011, on average, the industry grew at a
rate of nine percent, and is expected to track a similar level of expansion in the
future. With this proliferation, the need to effectively recycle this material and keep it
out of landfills has been magnified. In fact, while plastic comprised less than one
percent of municipal solid waste in 1960, by the first decade of the 2000s it had
reached double figures. Worldwide, a range between 22 percent and 43 percent of
plastic is disposed of in landfills, according to the United Nations Environmental
Program.
Key Facts to Consider
Here are some other facts to consider from Worldwatch Intsitute
MBtus per ton of recycled material versus production of new plastics using virgin
materials.
Continued Advancement
Progress continues to be made in the recovery rate for plastic material, as well as in
the efficiency of the recycling industry. Over the last 25 years, for instance,
sophisticated sorting and recycling systems have been developed to help shape the
modern plastics recycling system. One example, new beverage bottle recycling
plants are now capable of recycling polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into
food grade plastic. Additionally, researchers continue to explore how to derive more
value from plastic residuals in a variety of creative approaches, stemming from
waste to energy to conversion of plastic to oil.
In 2010, 9.2 billion tons of plastic were recycled, including 5.3 billion pounds of postindustrial scrap, and 3.7 billion pounds of post-consumer material. The U.S. exported
$940 million worth of plastic scrap in 2010.
Systematic Approach Needed
Industry thought leaders recognize that a systematic approach needs to be taken
when looking at this problem - embracing the entire product life cycle. The challenge
is to fully leverage the amazing attributes of plastic, while creating a system that
prioritizes design for recycling and more effective recovery.
While the future of plastic recycling is promising, however, it still has a long way to
go. A high percentage of plastic material still goes to landfills, for many reasons,
including incomplete coverage of municipal curbside recycling programs,
inconsistent state laws and local confusion over what is or is not recyclable, product
design issues, as well as other issues.