The technology used for plastic waste management

Plastic is a strong, adaptable material with a wide range of industrial applications. However, it also poses a serious threat to the environment and human health. The World Bank estimates that the world generated 242 million tons of plastic waste in 2016, and this figure could more than double by 2050. Most of this plastic waste is not recycled or reused but ends up in landfills, incinerators, or the oceans, causing pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and biodiversity loss.

To address this challenge, we need to adopt a circular economy approach that minimizes plastic waste and maximizes its value. Technology can play a vital role in this process by enabling more efficient and effective plastic recycling and waste management. In this blog post, we will look at some of the emerging technologies that are transforming the field of plastic waste management.

How Technology Can Improve Plastic Recycling

Plastic recycling is the process of reprocessing or remanufacturing plastic waste into new products or materials. Plastic recycling can reduce the demand for virgin plastics, conserve natural resources and energy, and prevent plastic pollution. However, plastic recycling faces many obstacles, such as:

The lack of quality and quantity of plastic waste streams is due to contamination or mixing of different types of plastics.
The degradation or loss of performance and properties of recycled plastics over time is due to physical or chemical changes during processing.
The inability to recycle some types of plastics, such as thermosets, which are cross-linked and cannot be melted or reshaped,

To overcome these barriers, new technologies are being developed that can enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of plastic recycling. Some of these technologies are:

Chemical Recycling

Chemical recycling is a set of technologies that alter the chemical structure of plastic waste. Long hydrocarbon chains constituting plastics are broken into shorter hydrocarbon fractions or monomers using chemical, thermal, or catalytic (chemical or thermal) processes. These shorter molecules can be used as feedstock for new chemical reactions to produce new recycled plastics and other chemicals. Chemical recycling can:

Recycle mixed or contaminated plastic waste streams, as well as thermosets and other difficult-to-recycle plastics.
Produce high-quality recycled plastics that are comparable to virgin plastics in terms of performance and properties.

Dissolution Recycling

Dissolution recycling is a purification process that selectively dissolves the polymer present in a mixed plastic waste stream in a solvent, allowing it to be separated from the waste and retrieved in an unaltered state without modifying its chemical composition.

Dissolution recycling can:

Recycle plastics that are difficult to separate by mechanical means, such as multi-layered packaging or textiles.
Improve the quality and purity of recycled plastics by removing contaminants and additives.

Enzymatic Recycling

Enzymatic recycling is a biological process that uses enzymes to break down plastic waste into its monomers, or building blocks. Enzymatic recycling can:

Recycle plastics that are biodegradable or bio-based, such as polylactic acid (PLA) or polyethylene furanoate (PEF), which are derived from renewable sources like corn or sugar.
Reduce the energy consumption and environmental impact of plastic recycling compared to conventional methods.

How Technology Can Optimize Plastic Waste Management

Plastic waste management is the process of collecting and processing plastic waste for disposal or recovery. Plastic waste management can reduce the environmental and social costs of plastic waste generation as well as increase the availability and quality of plastic waste streams for recycling. However, plastic waste management faces many challenges, such as:

The high cost and low efficiency of waste collection and transportation
The low accuracy and high labor intensity of waste sorting and separation
The lack of transparency and accountability in the waste supply chain

To address these issues, new technologies are being introduced that can leverage data and digital tools to optimize plastic waste management operations. Some of these technologies are:

Smart waste bins

Smart waste bins are equipped with sensors that measure the fill level and weight of the waste inside them. They can also use artificial intelligence-based object recognition to automatically sort recyclables into separate compartments. Smart waste bins can:

Communicate with a central system via wireless networks to provide real-time data on waste generation and collection.
Send alerts when they are full or need maintenance.
Improve the collection frequency and routing of waste trucks, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
Reduce improper recycling sorting by consumers, making material processing faster and easier for recycling facilities.

Automated Recycling

Automated recycling uses robots, sensors, cameras, and machine learning algorithms to sort and separate different types of plastics at recycling plants. Automated recycling can:

Increase the speed and accuracy of plastic sorting compared to manual methods.
Reduce the labor costs and health risks associated with handling hazardous or contaminated plastic waste.
Improve the quality and quantity of recycled plastics, as well as reduce the waste and energy consumption of recycling processes.

Plastic Traceability

Plastic traceability uses digital technologies, such as blockchain, QR codes, or RFID tags, to track the origin, movement, and destination of plastic waste along the supply chain. Plastic traceability can:

Provide transparency and accountability for plastic producers, consumers, recyclers, and regulators.
Incentivize plastic recycling by rewarding or certifying the participants involved in the circular economy.
Prevent plastic leakage into the environment, as well as improve the data and information on plastic waste generation and management.

Conclusion

Technology can play a key role in solving the plastic waste problem by enabling more efficient and effective plastic recycling and waste management. However, technology alone is not enough. We also need to adopt a holistic and systemic approach that involves policy, regulation, education, innovation, and collaboration among all stakeholders. Together, we can create a more circular and sustainable economy that minimizes plastic waste and maximizes its value.