Just as plastic cannot be collected from the oceans and deserts for composting, it cannot be
collected for recycling. Recycling does not therefore address the principal concern about
plastics – how to deal with the plastic which has escaped into the open environment.
Whilst almost all pre-consumer waste (e.g. factory off-cuts) is recycled or reused, almost all post
-consumer waste plastic is not. There are reasons for this, one of which is that a great deal of
water is needed to wash post-consumer waste to make it usable, so the amount of waste-
water generated is enormous. Moreover, this process leaves large quantities of dirty solid
waste, including biological waste that is hazardous and highly undesirable.
The recycling charity RECOUP says (“Recyclability by Design”) that
“where plastic products are particularly lightweight and contaminated
with other materials, the energy and resources used in a recycling
process may be more than those required for producing new plastics.
In such cases recycling may not be the most environmentally sound
It is too costly in financial and environmental terms to collect it, transport it, sort it, bail it,
store it, and then reprocess it, and that is why it was being dumped in the forests in Asia.
By contrast, PET bottles are worth collecting for recycling, and oxo-bio technology is not
suitable for use in their manufacture.
Most of the plastic that does get reprocessed is larger items e.g. plastic drinks bottles have
a 56% rate. Click to read.
Minimal amounts of plastic bags (or “film”) are processed, and RECOUP data shows that
the collection rate for household plastic film is only 5%. Click to read
According to US National Public Radio (March 31, 2020) “For decades, Americans have
been sorting their trash believing that most plastic could be recycled, but the truth is, the
vast majority of all plastic produced can’t be or won’t be recycled. In a joint investigation,
NPR and the PBS series “Frontline” found that oil and gas companies — the makers of
plastic — have known that fact all along, even as they were telling the American public
Starting in the late 1980s, the plastics industry spent tens of millions of dollars promoting
recycling through ads, recycling projects and public relations, telling people plastic could
be and should be recycled. But their own internal records dating back to the 1970s show
that industry officials long knew that recycling plastic on a large scale was unlikely to ever
be economically viable.
A top official, who led SPI for more than a decade, says the strategy to push recycling was
simple: “The feeling was the plastics industry was under fire, we had to do what it takes to
take the heat off, because we want to continue to make plastic products,” he says. “If the
public thinks that recycling is working, then they’re not going to be as concerned about
The plastics industry was under attack by environmentalists for one main reason – that if
plastics get into the open environment they can lie or float around for decades.
They could have solved this problem by making the plastic products
with oxo-biodegradable technology so that they would become
biodegradable and would be recycled back into nature by bacteria
and fungi. Instead they ignored (and even opposed) this technology,
which has been proven since the 1970s, and they spent millions of
dollars trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the consumers.
In Tennessee USA Click to read (pdf) “The reality of plastics recycling? It’s pretty much already
dead. In 2015, the U.S. recycled about 9 percent of its plastic waste, and since then the
number has dropped even lower.
The best way to deal with contaminated post-consumer waste plastic is to send it to
modern, non-polluting, thermal recycling facilities and to use the energy released
from the plastic to generate electricity, instead of wasting it by sending to landfill.
Recycling is sometimes used as an objection to biodegradable plastic, on the basis that
it would contaminate a post-consumer waste stream, but this is clearly inapplicable if the
relevant waste plastic is not going to be mechanically recycled.
A March 2020 Report by the Institute of Environmental Engineering, Zurich, for the
Swiss Federal Office for the Environment found that:
“Conventional plastics may contain pro-oxidant additives that were added for different
intended functionalities. Moura et al. (1997) described that colorants in general can act
as pro-oxidants. If they partake in the creation of radicals or reactive oxygen species,
such as singlet oxygen (1Δg), they can trigger photo-degradation of the polymer matrix.”
“Conventional plastic products (n = 23) were found to regularly contain Fe, Ba, Ti, Zn,
Cu and V. Some individual conventional plastic bag samples also contained Cr and Pb”
“Thus, a potentially much higher number of plastics on the market may match the current
legal definition of oxo-degradable plastics without being advertised or intended as such,
i.e. unintentional ODP.”
Users of recyclate cannot therefore assume that the recyclate does not contain pro-oxidants,
but this does not matter if the recyclate is to be used for short-life products such as carrier
bags, garbage sacks, or general packaging, where biodegradability is actually desirable.
With regard to long-life products, the Austrian specialist laboratory TCKT said in para.1 of its
March 2016 report. that “long-life films should be made with virgin polymer, or be stabilized
to deal with loss of properties caused by the recycling process, whether or not any
pro-degradant additive is present. Such stabilization would effectively neutralize the
effect of any pro-degradant additive.”
Although oxo-biodegradable plastic is used for low-value items which are not worth recycling, the
experts in Austria (TCKT Report para. 4) and South Africa (Roediger Report May 2012 page 3 )
have confirmed that if anyone wished to recycle them, they may be recycled without any
significant detriment to the newly formed recycled product.
This accords with the experience of OPA members who have recycled
many thousands of tons of oxo-biodegradable plastic over the past 20
years without any adverse effects.
The experts also found that bio-based plastics are not recyclable in a conventional plastic
waste-stream. This is well known, but is seldom heard as an objection to that type of plastic.
Having considered all the issues mentioned above policymakers have to decide whether
recycling is a sufficient reason to continue to allow ordinary plastic to be used for short-life
packaging which could get into the open environment and lie or float around for many
Kama vile plastiki haiwezi kukusanywa kutoka baharini na jangwani kwa ajili ya mbolea, haiwezi kukusanywa kwa ajili ya kuchakata. Kwa hiyo, kuchakata plastiki hakushughuliki na wasiwasi kuu kuhusu plastiki - jinsi ya kushughulikia plastiki ambayo imeingia katika mazingira ya wazi. Wakati karibu taka zote kabla ya watumiaji (kwa mfano Plastiki ya kiwanda (au kutengwa) ni recycled au kutumika tena, karibu wote baada ya watumiaji taka plastiki si. Kuna sababu za hili, moja ambayo ni kwamba kiasi kikubwa cha maji inahitajika kuosha taka baada ya watumiaji kufanya hivyo kutumika, hivyo kiasi cha taka-maji yanayotokana ni kubwa. Isitoshe, mchakato huo hutokeza taka nyingi chafu, kutia ndani taka za kibiolojia ambazo ni hatari na zisizofaa kabisa. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika ripoti ya Recycle by Design, ""wakati bidhaa za plastiki ni nyepesi na zimechafuliwa na vifaa vingine, nishati na rasilimali zinazotumiwa katika mchakato wa kuchakata zinaweza kuwa zaidi ya zile zinazohitajika kutengeneza plastiki mpya.""" Kwa hivyo, kwa sababu ya hali ya hewa, ni muhimu sana kukusanya, kusafirisha, kuondoa, kuhifadhi, na kisha kuharibu, na kwa hivyo ni muhimu sana kuondoa. Kwa upande mwingine, chupa za PET zinastahili kukusanywa kwa ajili ya kuchakata, na teknolojia ya oxo-bio haifai kutumiwa katika utengenezaji wao. Plastiki nyingi ambazo zinashughulikiwa ni vitu vikubwa, kwa mfano. Kwa mfano, chupa za vinywaji za plastiki zina kiwango cha 56% ya maambukizi. Bonyeza ili usome. Kwa mfano, katika nchi za Ulaya, idadi ya vifurushi vya plastiki (au filamu) ni ndogo sana, na takwimu za RECOUP zinaonyesha kuwa kiwango cha ukusanyaji wa filamu ya plastiki ya nyumbani ni 5% tu. "Kulingana na redio ya umma ya kitaifa ya Marekani (Mchi 31, 2020), ""Kwa miongo kadhaa, Wamarekani wamekuwa wakitenganisha taka zao wakiamini kwamba plastiki nyingi zinaweza kuchakata, lakini ukweli ni kwamba, idadi kubwa ya plastiki zote zinazozalishwa haziwezi au hazitakuwa na kuchakata.""" Katika uchunguzi wa pamoja, NPR na PBS mfululizo Frontline iligundua kuwa makampuni ya mafuta na gesi, watengenezaji wa plastiki, wamekuwa wakijua ukweli huo wakati wote, hata kama walikuwa wakiwaambia umma wa Marekani, kuanzia mwishoni mwa miaka ya 1980, sekta ya plastiki ilitumia mamilioni ya dola kukuza kuchakata kupitia matangazo, miradi ya kuchakata na mahusiano ya umma, kuwaambia watu plastiki inaweza na inapaswa kuchakata. Lakini rekodi zao za ndani za miaka ya 1970 zinaonyesha kuwa maafisa wa tasnia walijua kwa muda mrefu kwamba kuchakata plastiki kwa kiwango kikubwa hakukuwa na uwezekano wa kuwa na ufanisi wa kiuchumi. "Mfanyakazi mmoja wa juu, ambaye aliongoza SPI kwa zaidi ya miaka kumi, anasema mkakati wa kusukuma kuchakata ulikuwa rahisi: ""Hisia ilikuwa kwamba tasnia ya plastiki ilikuwa chini ya moto, tulilazimika kufanya kile kinachohitajika kuchukua joto, kwa sababu tunataka kuendelea kutengeneza bidhaa za plastiki.""" """Ikiwa umma unafikiri kwamba kuchakata ni kazi, basi wao si kwenda kuwa kama wasiwasi kuhusu sekta ya plastiki ilikuwa chini ya mashambulizi na wanaharakati wa mazingira kwa sababu moja kuu: kwamba kama plastiki kupata katika mazingira ya wazi wanaweza kukaa au kuelea karibu kwa miongo." Kwa hivyo, ni muhimu kuzingatia kwamba bidhaa za plastiki zinaweza kuharibiwa na bakteria na kuharibiwa na fungi. Badala yake, walipuuza (na hata kupinga) teknolojia hii, ambayo imethibitishwa tangu miaka ya 1970, na walitumia mamilioni ya dola kujaribu kuvuta sufu juu ya macho ya watumiaji. Katika Tennessee USA Bonyeza kusoma (pdf) Ukweli wa plastiki ya kuchakata? Ni pretty sana tayari wafu. Mwaka 2015, Marekani ilitengeneza upya asilimia 9 ya taka zake za plastiki, na tangu wakati huo idadi hiyo imepungua hata zaidi. Njia bora ya kukabiliana na plastiki ya taka iliyochafuliwa baada ya matumizi ni kuipeleka kwa vifaa vya kisasa vya kuchakata cha joto visivyo na uchafuzi na kutumia nishati iliyotolewa kutoka kwa plastiki kutengeneza umeme, badala ya kuipoteza kwa kuipeleka kwenye mahali pa kuondoa taka. Kwa mfano, kutumiwa kwa plastiki ya biodegradable ni kinyume na kanuni ya utumiaji wa plastiki ya taka, lakini kwa kweli haitumiki ikiwa plastiki ya taka haitafanyiwa kazi. Ripoti ya Machi 2020 ya Taasisi ya Uhandisi wa Mazingira, Zurich, kwa Ofisi ya Shirikisho ya Mazingira ya Uswisi iligundua kuwa: Plastiki za kawaida zinaweza kuwa na nyongeza za pro-oxidant ambazo ziliongezwa kwa kazi tofauti zilizokusudiwa. Moura et al. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, rangi za rangi zinaweza kuwa ""pro-oxidants.""" "Kama wao kushiriki katika uundaji wa radicals au aina ya oksijeni reactive, kama vile singlet oksijeni (1Dg), wanaweza kusababisha photo-kuharibika kwa matrix ya polima. bidhaa za kawaida plastiki (n = 23) walikuwa kupatikana kwa mara kwa mara kuwa na Fe, Ba, Ti, Zn, Cu na V. Baadhi ya sampuli ya kawaida plastiki mifuko pia zilizomo Cr na Pb. hivyo, uwezekano mkubwa zaidi ya plastiki kwenye soko inaweza mechi ufafanuzi wa sasa wa plastiki oxo-degradable bila kuwa matangazo au nia kama vile. """ Kwa hivyo, watumiaji wa recycled hawawezi kudhani kwamba recycled haina pro-oxidants, lakini hii haina maana ikiwa recycled itatumiwa kwa bidhaa za muda mfupi kama vile mifuko ya kubeba, mifuko ya taka, au ufungaji wa jumla, ambapo biodegradability ni kweli inataka. "Kwa mujibu wa ripoti ya ""Mwaka wa Maendeleo,"" maabara ya wataalamu ya Austria TCKT ilitoa taarifa ya mwisho ya majaribio ya majaribio ya majaribio ya majaribio ya majaribio ya majaribio ya majaribio ya majaribio ya majaribio ya majaribio ya majaribio ya majaribio ya majaribio." kwamba <unk> filamu za maisha marefu zinapaswa kutengenezwa na polima ya bikira, au kuwa imara ili kukabiliana na kupoteza mali inayosababishwa na mchakato wa kuchakata, ikiwa kuna au hakuna nyongeza yoyote ya kuharibu. "Kama vile, kwa mfano, ""kuondoa"" au ""kuondoa"" plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki ya plastiki." "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika ripoti ya Roediger ya Mei 2012, ""Kwa hivyo, ikiwa mtu yeyote angependa kuzirudisha, zinaweza kuzuiliwa bila madhara yoyote makubwa kwa bidhaa mpya iliyoundwa.""" Hii inalingana na uzoefu wa wanachama wa OPA ambao wamerudisha maelfu ya tani za plastiki ya oxo-biodegradable katika miaka 20 iliyopita bila athari yoyote mbaya. Wataalamu pia waligundua kwamba plastiki za kibaiolojia haziwezi kurejeshwa katika mkondo wa taka za plastiki za kawaida. Jambo hilo linajulikana sana, lakini ni mara chache sana linaposikilizwa likiwa pingamizi dhidi ya aina hiyo ya plastiki. Baada ya kuzingatia masuala yote yaliyotajwa hapo juu, watunga sera wanapaswa kuamua ikiwa kuchakata ni sababu ya kutosha ya kuendelea kuruhusu plastiki ya kawaida kutumika kwa ufungaji wa muda mfupi ambao unaweza kuingia katika mazingira ya wazi na kukaa au kuelea karibu kwa muda mrefu.