Chemical Engineering September 2023 - 4

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Editors Page
Recycling plastics
S
eparating recyclables from our trash has become commonplace
for many of us. What can be recycled and how it is
collected, however, varies quite a bit by location. My town,
for example, accepts plastics #1 (polyethylene terephthalate;
PET), #2 (high-density polyethylene; HDPE) and #5 (polypropylene;
PP). Other locations accept plastics #1-7, which includes low-density
polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene and others. Some towns collect
plastics together with metals and glass, and others do not. This variation
in collection protocols in the U.S. can be confusing to consumers
and is one of the big hurdles to advancing plastic recycling.
A recent report [1] from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering
and Medicine (www.nationalacademies.org) finds that privateand
public-sector recycling efforts are not well coordinated and says
that " action from the public sector at the federal, state and local levels is
needed to improve the plastics waste-management system in the U.S. "
The report states that recycled plastics are an underutilized resource,
and that only about 10% of plastics waste is recycled in the U.S.
Using recycled plastics
The National Academies report summarizes a study that was sponsored
by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency to look at the potential use of recycled plastics
in infrastructure. Potential infrastructure applications include asphalt
pavement mixes, drainage pipes, railroad ties, bicycle paths, composite
utility poles and highway sound barriers. Of these, only drainage
pipes shows significant demand at present, according to the report,
and more knowledge about a number of factors, including long-term
performance, is needed for further adoption. The four plastics with
properties that are most suited for infrastructure applications - PET,
HDPE, PP and LDPE - are also in demand for applications such as
carpeting, clothing and bottles. The report says that more recycled
plastics are needed to meet the demand.
Processing technologies
As the demand for recycled plastics increases, companies are investing
in processing technologies and facilities. Nova Chemicals
Corp. (www.novachem.com), for example, recently announced that
it is developing its first mechanical recycling facility to convert postconsumer
plastic films to recycled polyethylene (rPE) at commercial
scale as early as 2025. The facility, to be located in Connersville, Ind.,
is expected to deliver over 100 million lb of rPE by 2026.
Nova has also announced that it, together with Plastic Energy, will
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study the feasibility of developing a pyrolysis-driven advanced recycling
facility for polyethylene in Ontario. If built, the facility is expected
to be the largest of its type in Canada. Advanced, or chemical recycling,
can produce plastics with the same properties as virgin material.
Late last year, ExxonMobil Corp. (www.exxonmobil.com) announced
the successful startup of its advanced recycling facility in
Baytown, Tex. The facility is said to be able to process
80 million lb/yr of plastic waste.
More news on recycling facilities and technologies
can be found in " The Latest " section on our website
(www.chemengonline.com) and by subscribing to
our free " Sustainability Direct " E-newsletter.
■
Dorothy Lozowski, Editorial Director
1. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Recycled Plastics
in Infrastructure: Current Practices, Understanding, and Opportunities,
Washington, D.C., The National Academies Press, 2023.
4
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SEPTEMBER 2023
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Chemical Engineering September 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering September 2023
