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Sustainable End-of-Life Management of Plastics
Citation:
Sahle-Demessie, Endalkac. Sustainable End-of-Life Management of Plastics. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-23/185, 2023.
Impact/Purpose:
Plastics are versatile materials and vital for the US economy. However, the current production, use, and end-of-life (EOL) management could be more effective and beneficial to the environment. Many of the challenges linked to the production, consumption, and EOL of plastics can be turned into an opportunity for the US. There is a need for an innovative approach to undertake the plastic challenge through a determined strategic vision covering the entire value chain. US industry, users, and policy makers should take leadership in global solutions and help us transition towards a low-carbon and circular economy. The report assesses the current challenges and trends and offers best practices for a cleaner, safer environment that leads to a more circular plastics economy reality. Up-scaling technologies that include depolymerization processes, including pyrolytic technologies using plastics-to-fuel strategies, are under development ranging from bench-scale demonstrations to full-scale implementation. The idea of closed supply chain constraints offers optimal solutions to plastic recycling. Evaluation of new processes requires performance assessment to provide a better understanding of how plastics recycling technologies contribute to the environment and the sustainable reuse of plastic materials. The document includes end-of-life management of plastic for state regional authorities, cities, the plastics industry, and all relevant stakeholders to commit to resolute and concrete action
Description:
A spectrum of plastics has been produced in the last half-century, and plastic production has increased faster than any other manufactured material. Current recycling of all plastic materials is pegged at 10% or less. Plastics’ social value is reflected in their myriad uses for engineered durability to single-use applications. Disposable of single-use plastic items has become a significant problem. Plastic debris has become ubiquitous to the landscape and aquatic resources, leading to human health, ecological concerns, and sustainability issues. Past disposal practices relied on waste plastic flows to certain countries for disposal, but these have been summarily curtailed, needing alternatives such as productive and environmentally conscious recycling technology. Waste plastics can be repurposed using purification, decomposition, or conversion processes that are based on established and emerging mechanical and chemical technologies. Thermal, chemical, and biological depolymerization processes, including pyrolytic technologies using plastics-to-fuel strategies, are under development ranging from bench-scale demonstrations to full-scale implementation. The idea of closed supply chain constraints offers optimal solutions to plastic recycling. Evaluation of new processes requires performance assessment to provide a better understanding of how plastics recycling technologies contribute to the environment and the sustainable reuse of plastic materials.