Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T19:08:30.257Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A review of plastics recycling in the USA with policy recommendations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 October 2009

Constantine Hadjilambrinos
Constantine Hadjilambrinos*
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Studies, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, Florida 33199, USA
*
* Dr Constantine Hadjilambrinos Tel: + 1 305 348 1209 Fax: +1 305 348 3772 email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Plastics are the fastest-growing component of municipal solid waste in the USA, and over the past decade there has been increasing public demand for plastics recycling. However, the necessity to separate the various plastic resins to make their recycling possible, combined with the low cost of virgin resins, make this technically difficult and expensive.

Most sorting of plastic waste is done manually, and this method has been constrained to the diversion of only one or two types of plastics, because human sorters are incapable of distinguishing different plastics. A number of technologies are being developed in order to address this problem. Use of these technologies requires considerable capital investment and this makes many of them economically unfeasible at present. The federal, state, and local governments in the USA have continued to explore demand-side policy measures in an effort to promote market formation and operation. Where they have been successful, in the establishment of markets for recycled polyethylene terepthalate (PET), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resins, demand has outpaced supply, highlighting the need to find more effective methods to sort and divert different plastic resins. Even with these supply shortages, and with prices for virgin PET and HDPE at historic highs, however, most plastics recycling remains only marginally profitable. This demonstrates the need for continued policy support for the still-developing plastics recycling industry and recycled-plastics market.

An analysis of the factors driving the recycling of PET, HDPE and polypropylene indicates that, as long as manual sorting is used, it would make sense for supply- and demand-side policies to focus on the recycling of particular plastic products that are easy to recognize, rather than resins that are not. Appropriate policies can help make specific products easily recognizable sources of specific resins. Such policies, implemented in conjunction with measures designed to facilitate capital investments and promote the establishment and operation of markets for all resins, are necessary to increase significantly the recycling of plastic waste above present levels.

Keywords

plastics recyclingUSApolicytechnologies
Type
Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 23 , Issue 4 , December 1996 , pp. 298 - 306
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anderson, P. & Rattray, T. (1994) Recycling plastic containers: the arrival of vertical integration. Resource Recycling 13(9): 77–82.Google Scholar
Apothcker, S. (1994) Renewed interest and controversy: plastics recovery 1994. Resource Recycling 13(1): 24–32.Google Scholar
Apotheker, S. (1995) Consource Plastic Recycling Corp. makes it easy: Give us all your plastic containers. Resource Recycling 14(5): 41–3.Google Scholar
Aunan, L. & Martin, T. (1994) Recycled content laws: How are they working? Resource Recycling 13(5): 30–6.Google Scholar
Boerschig, S. & De Young, R. (1993) Evaluation of selected recycling curricula: educating the Green Citizen. Journal of Environmental Education 24(3): 17–23.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brewer, G. (1990) Beyond PET and milk jug recycling. Resource Recycling 9(1): 44–7 + 66.Google Scholar
Bundesgcsetzblatt (1991) Vcrordnung über die Vcrmcidung von Verpackungsabfallcn. Bundesgesetzblatl Teil I: 1234–46.Google Scholar
Cutler, A. & Moore, S. (1995) Consumer education: the key to successful plastics recycling. Resource Recycling 14(5): 29–34.Google Scholar
Dinger, P. (1992 a) Automatic sorting for mixed plastics. BioCycle 33(3): 80–2.Google Scholar
Dinger, P. (1992 b) Automatic microsorting for mixed plastics. BioCycle 33(4): 79–80.Google Scholar
Ewing, T. (1991) Recycled plastic isn't cheap. Recycling Times June 18: 3.Google Scholar
Fitzell, P. (1987) Modernizing the recycling grind. Beverage World 6: 46–8.Google Scholar
Futuretech (1990) Briefing on: mixed plastics waste recycling process. Fuluretech 119, December 10: 4.Google Scholar
Heinen, J. (1995) A review of, and research suggestions for, solid-waste management issues: the predicted role of incentives in promoting conservation behaviour. Environmental Conservation 22: 157–66.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heinen, J.T. & Low, R. (‘B.’) S. (1992) Human behavioural ecology and environmental conservation. Environmental Conservation 19: 105–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Herrick, D. (1994) Taking it to the stores: retail sales of recycled products. Resource Recycling 13(3): 33–7.Google Scholar
Hungerford, H. & Volk, T. (1990) Changing learner behavior through environmental education. Journal of Environmental Education 21(3): 8–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hunt, R.G. (1995) LCA considerations of solid waste management alternatives for paper and plastics. Resources Conservation and Recycling 14: 225–31.Google Scholar
Iozzi, L.A. (1989 a) What research says to the educator: part one. Journal of Environmental Education 20(3): 3–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Iozzi, L.A. (1989 b) What research says to the educator: part two. Journal of Environmental Education 20(4): 6–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klemchuk, P.P. (1990) Dcgradablc plastics: a critical review. Polymer Degradation and Stability 27: 183–202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McPoIand, F. (1995) Twenty-five years in recycling: The federal government perspective. Resource Recycling 14(4): 94–6.Google Scholar
Milgrom, J. (1994) Trends in plastics recycling. Resource Recycling 13(5): 65–72.Google Scholar
Modern Plastics (1995) Resins Report. Modern Plastics 72(1): 63–8.Google Scholar
Modern Plastics (1996) Resins Report. Modern Plastics 73(1): 70–6.Google Scholar
National Environmental Law Center (1993) States close the loop: a survey of recycled content laws and other market development strategics. Unpublished report by the National Environmental Law Center, Portland, Oregon: 3–13.Google Scholar
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (1990) Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1990 Update (EPA/530-SW-90–042), Washington, DC: Environmental Protection Agency: 124 pp.Google Scholar
Powell, J. (1995 a) The PRFect solution to plastic bottle recycling. Resource Recycling 14(2): 25–7.Google Scholar
Powell, J. (1995 b) HDPE bottle recycling: The demand glut continues. Resource Recycling 14(5): 23–8.Google Scholar
Rathje, W. & Murphy, C. (1992) Rubbish! The Archaeology of Garbage. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers: 250 pp.Google Scholar
Sia, A.P., Hungcrford, H. & Tomera, A.N. (1985) Selected predictors of responsible environmental behavior: an analysis. Journal of Environmental Education 17(2): 31–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stevens, B.J. (1995) Lessons from high achievers: cities with successful curbsidc recycling programs. Resource Recycling 14(10): 58–63.Google Scholar
Sutherland, G. & Tormey, M. (1996) A five-year history of recycling market prices: 1996 update. Resource Recycling 15(10): 50–6.Google Scholar
USA Congress (1976) Public Law 94–580-Oct. 21, 1976. US Statutes-at-large 90: 2795–2841.Google Scholar
US Bureau of the Census (1989) Statistical Abstract of the United States. Washington DC: US Bureau of the Census: 956 pp.Google Scholar
US Bureau of the Census (1990) Statistical Abstract of the United States. Washington DC: US Bureau of the Census: 991 pp.Google Scholar
US Bureau of the Census (1991) Statistical Abstract of the United States. Washington DC: US Bureau of the Census: 986 pp.Google Scholar
US Bureau of the Census (1992) Statistical Abstract of the United States. Washington DC: US Bureau of the Census: 979 pp.Google Scholar
US Bureau of the Census (1993) Statistical Abstract of the United States. Washington DC: US Bureau of the Census: 1009 pp.Google Scholar
US Bureau of the Census (1994) Statistical Abstract of the United States. Washington DC: US Bureau of the Census: 1011 pp.Google Scholar
US Bureau of the Census (1995) Statistical Abstract of the United States. Washington DC: US Bureau of the Census: 1045 pp.Google Scholar
Wachtel, J. (1993) Battery recycling charges up. BioCycle 34(11): 82–3.Google Scholar
Woods, R. (1995) Advance disposal fees and recycling: partners or foes? Waste Age 26(5): 93–4.Google Scholar