Chemical Recycling: the solution for plastic trash. 

As a society we have a big problem, we use a material that longs for centuries for 10-30 minutes use. The single-use plastics have transformed our societies and economies. However, they have damaged our environment. Approximately 99% of the resources extracted from the planet become waste in less than 42 days.  In many cases this waste is not recovered, less than 5% of the plastic manufactured each year is recycled. Since plastic doesn’t biodegrade, developing new ways to break it down has been a goal of companies and recycling advocates for decades.

There have been many types of research on how to approach these materials and reuse them. One problem recycling companies usually face is that most rigid plastic products can only be recycled a few times before they lose their original properties and become non-recyclable. Furthermore, this plastic cannot be used again as a food-grade PET.

Studies have shown that one of the most convenient one way to recovered plastic waste is converting it into another plastic product or transforming it into fuel.

Even though this technology is still on a development stage, there are some companies who have already patent a new technology for this conversion. One of them is Plastic Energy, a UK based team, that have its plastic recycling plants in Seville and Almeria (Spain). Another company is Gr3n project which is located in Switzerland. Both companies are dedicated to recycled plastic. The first one transforms plastic into fuel, and the second one converts PET bottles and Synthetic Textile fibers into new virgin PET. The innovation of these two companies is that its processes can be applied to an industrial level and are profitable. These two points are extremely important while the application of a process. Due to the fact that Profit making capability and Scalability are the most important factors Investors look for in a Business.

Chemical Recycle technology is opening a new world of possibilities. Such technology would dramatically cut the need for new plastic made largely from petroleum and vastly improve the life cycle of plastics.

Maybe I am being too hopeful, but what If all Plastic can be recycled? , then waste plastic could potentially become a thing of the past.

References:

Jim Curtis. (2018). Chemical Recycling: Could This Breakthrough Technology Curb Plastic Waste?. 17-02-18, de Coca-cola Company Sitio web: https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/chemical-recycling-could-this-breakthrough-technology-curb-plastic-waste