In a January paper, the Alliance of Mission-Based Recyclers (AMBR) argues our current recycling system is limited and “simply put, we cannot recycle our way out of our plastics problem.” Some of the main findings of the report are:
Reduce first. Efforts to reduce our consumption of plastic must take precedence over efforts to improve recycling. AMBR opposes the use of chemical recycling for any material that has been identified by prominent organizations as an “unnecessary or avoidable” plastic and/or has a viable waste reduction alternative, including materials such as single-use plastic bags and utensils.
No plastics to fuel. There is no role for plastics-to-fuel (P2F) in a circular economy and plastics to fuel should not be considered recycling.
Stop using chemical recycling, or advanced recycling, as a blanket term. There needs to be made a clear distinction between plastics-to-plastics (P2P) and plastics-to-fuel (P2F) chemical recycling technologies. These technologies should be called by their type and include information about their feedstocks so that individual projects can be assessed independently on their own merits.
Systemic changes are needed if new technologies are to be effective and safe. Plastic to plastic (P2P) chemical recycling technologies such as purification and depolymerization have the potential to improve plastics recycling and help to increase the production and quality of post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin, but only if we simultaneously invest in transforming our entire system of plastics production and recycling.
Read the report.