Industry is now pushing for a new technological fix for plastic waste, called “chemical recycling.” New proposals are popping up in Australia, the EU, Indonesia, Malaysia,Thailand, and the U.S., increasingly supported by favorable legislation. While plastics-to-plastics (P2P) and plastics-to-fuel (PTF) facilities are in principle different, industry increasingly touts certain facilities as “chemical recycling,” when in fact, these companies turn plastic back into a fossil fuel, which is later burned. The plastic industry’s promises of “plastic to fuel” & “chemical recycling” are a distraction. These false solutions justify the continued production of plastic and don’t address the source of the problem.
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CHEMICAL RECYCLING: BEHIND THE INDUSTRY HYPE
Amid overwhelming plastic pollution and an exponential rise in plastic production, the fossil fuel industry has touted chemical or “advanced” recycling as a solution to the plastic crisis. However, through extensive research GAIA has uncovered that the true nature of “chemical recycling” falls far short of the industry hype.
US LEGISLATION ALERT: AMERICAN CHEMISTRY COUNCIL’S EFFORT TO PUSH “PLASTIC-TO-FUEL” BILLS
In 2017-2020, the plastics and chemical industry, represented by the American Chemistry Council (ACC), led an effort to make legislative changes to statewide policies to promote pyrolysis or “plastic-to-fuel” (PTF).
CHEMICAL RECYCLING IN BRIEF
This factsheet summarizes the findings of the All Talk and No Recycling report. Which concludes that given the scale and urgency of the plastic pollution problem we don’t have any more time to waste on greenwashing tech-fixes like “chemical recycling” projects.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: CHEMICAL RECYCLING
While plastics-to-plastics (P2P) and plastics-to-fuel (PTF) facilities are in principle different, industry increasingly touts certain facilities as “chemical recycling,” when in fact, these companies turn plastic back into a fossil fuel, which is later burned.
CHEMICAL RECYCLING: DISTRACTION, NOT SOLUTION
Drawing on the Chemical Recycling technical assessment released in June 2020, this briefing unveils various technologies referred to as “chemical recycling” and addresses toxicity, climate implications, technology readiness, financial viability, and circularity of the processes.
UNDERSTANDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF CHEMICAL RECYCLING.
This joint paper presents key findings from a review of some of the most commonly cited chemical recycling and recovery LCAs, which reveal major flaws and weaknesses regarding scientific rigour, data quality, calculation methods, and interpretations of the results.
CHEMICAL RECYCLING: STATUS, SUSTAINABILITY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The report reveals that chemical recycling is polluting, energy intensive, and has a track record of technical failures, and concludes that it is impossible for chemical recycling to be a viable solution in the short window of time left to solve the plastic problem, especially at the scale needed.
ALL TALK AND NO RECYCLING: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE U.S. “CHEMICAL RECYCLING” INDUSTRY
Amid overwhelming plastic pollution and an exponential rise in plastic production, the fossil fuel industry has touted chemical or “advanced” recycling as a solution to the plastic crisis.
THE REALITY OF WASTE-DERIVED FUELS: UP IN THE AIR
JET FUELS MADE FROM MUNICIPAL WASTE
In a world where climate and waste crises are worsening at a staggering rate, the idea of turning waste into fuels might sound like a great solution.
Plastic-to-Fuel: A Losing Proposition
Amid overwhelming plastic pollution and an exponential rise in plastic production, the fossil fuel industry has touted chemical or “advanced” recycling as a solution to the plastic crisis.
Hydrogen made from waste: is it green or is it red?
This advocacy brief gives an overview of what “waste-to-hydrogen” is and why it is problematic in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, toxic byproducts, and energy and material efficiency.