Challenges of Plastic Waste Management
Plastic is everywhere. From food wrappers to automobiles, almost every aspect of our lives contains something made of plastic, and it's almost impossible to avoid. Unfortunately, this wonder-material wreaks havoc on the environment when it sits in a landfill. Many companies have begun recycling it, but the same qualities that make plastic so valuable--its light weight, cheap cost and durability--make it a challenge to do so.
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Physical Properties
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The physical act of recycling a plastic product isn't as easy as it seems. Things like metal and paper are of relatively uniform composition, but there are many different types of plastics, and they cannot be recycled together. Plastics are composed of different types of resins and fibers, indicated by the number inside the triangle of arrows that you find on plastic containers. Different plastics require different processes to be recycled. Some are relatively easy, like water bottles and milk cartons, but others, like plastic pipes, cling wrap or food storage containers, require special chemicals and equipment that most recycling centers don't have.
Cost
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Because plastic is so cheap to produce, recycling it has to be cheap as well; otherwise, companies don't make a profit. For plastics that are easy to recycle, this balance isn't a problem, because they can be recycled at a low cost and in high volume with relatively inexpensive chemicals and equipment. They can also be used for a wide variety of products once they are broken down. However, it is difficult for companies to make a profit by recycling harder plastics because it requires more energy and more expensive materials, and they cannot be reused in as many lucrative ways. As such, most recycling companies do not try to recycle these more difficult plastics.
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Misinformation
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Many people harbor misconceptions about recycling, and some plastic companies even actively attempt to disseminate misinformation. For example, many people believe that because they can recycle plastic, it is safe to continue buying and using it. As a result, they will actually buy more of it. In fact, though, most collected plastic is either not recycled at all or recycled into a product that itself cannot be recycled. Thus, rather than reducing the use of plastic, consumption increases, and recycling only delays the plastic's entrance into a landfill.
Reduction
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Because it is difficult to turn recycled plastics into new products as cheaply or effectively as virgin plastics, and because many people feel that they can buy more plastic because it will simply be recycled, the consumption of plastics and the production of virgin plastics has not subsided. Just as many plastic objects enter landfills, and just as many new plastic objects are created. In order for plastic waste management to be truly effective, less virgin plastic must be produced. The methods of recycling all plastic products must be improved to make recycled plastic more versatile and cost effective. Consumers must also be educated about what happens to their plastic products so that they stop purchasing as much virgin plastic.
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References
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