Understanding the Role of Plastic Part Two of Three

Last week’s blog post discussed plastic waste and how much plastic is consumed and not reused in the United States. As mentioned last week, only 8% of total plastic waste was recycled in 2010. Thirty one million tons of plastic was generated on 2010, which means that roughly twenty-eight tons of plastic was placed in a landfill or other area where it is unable to be reused. Of course, recycling rates vary for different types of plastic­–such as PET, or #1 plastics and HDPE, #2 plastics–at twenty-nine and twenty eight percent respectively. Some good questions to ask are: why isn’t more being done to change the level of plastic that is placed in landfills? Why aren’t people taking charge of recycling and trying to close the loop on recycling plastic? How do we get from production, consumption, and disposal and then back to production?

In order to close the loop on recycling plastic, a company called MBA Polymers™ has developed a technology that turns plastic waste into sterilized, melted, pelletized, and remolded plastics (Tolve 38). This process takes 90% less energy than creating a new plastic material, also known as virgin plastic. But households, individuals, and businesses in the United States only recycle 8% of the plastic waste we produce. So we produce more new plastic at a less efficient energy consumption rate and for a higher price. That doesn’t make sense! Let’s turn the tides and start using “cradle-to-cradle” outcomes instead of “cradle-to-grave” results. By using a cradle-to-cradle (or recycling loop) mentality, we can keep plastic waste out of the landfill and start recycling the plastics we have already produced to decrease our reliance on petroleum and natural gas, both non-renewable resources.

This is a lot of information to take in and you might be wondering, “I’m just one person how can I make a difference?” We must remember that we are not alone in this movement towards plastic recycling! MBA Polymers™ processes this plastic waste but there are other important companies flourishing in the U.S., RecycleBank and Greenopolis. These two companies are just two of many that are basically designed to collect recycled plastic and aluminum products. They are able to make a profit on the waste they collect, reuse this waste and put it to use over and over again. Both RecycleBank and Greenopolis have begun partnering with approximately 10,000 retail partners across the nation (which is how they are able to profit from recycling) so when you recycle at their kiosks, you receive rewards points towards anything from restaurants to car rentals. While recycling should be second nature in our country, there is now an incentive to recycle plastics. Greenopolis and RecycleBank are both assisting in this creation of incentives. 

Below are a few links where you can learn more about recycling in your community (or your friend’s communities!), whether you have curbside pickup, or if there is a kiosk like Greenopolis near you to start earning rewards points. Thank you for your support and readership as well as your support in the plastic recycling movement!

Recycling Basics

Plastic Recycling Facts

Facts on Plastic, a Review from last week!

Be sure to check out our next blog about re-inventing plastic, part 3 of this blog post! 

Resource: Tolve, Andrew. “Plastic Fantastic.” Ode Magazine. Spring 2011: 37-40. Print.