Fact Sheet•
Sustainable Solutions That Strike a Balance: Mass Balance Explained
Advanced Recycling Technologies
We want to recycle a lot more plastics.
Here’s how we plan to do it.
We want to recycle a lot more plastics.
Here’s how we plan to do it.
How Does Advanced Recycling Turn Used Plastics into New Plastics?
Read more about this emerging recycling technology.
Recycles (Lots) More Plastic
America’s Plastic Makers are investing in innovative technologies that can recycle more of the 90% of plastic that is not recycled today. These technologies – called advanced recycling – turn used plastics into materials that can be made into new plastics and other products. Advanced recycling technologies in use today are increasing the types and amount of plastics we can recycle, so they don’t end up in landfills, incinerators, or our environment.
Low Air Emissions Technology
Advanced recycling facilities are most appropriately regulated as manufacturing operations and are subject to Clean Air Act (CAA) limits, as well as applicable state and local regulatory authorities. Researchers found air emissions from typical advanced recycling facilities were roughly similar to or lower than those from many other common facilities, such as universities, hospitals, food processing and automotive manufacturing facilities.
Drives Down Greenhouse Gasses
Findings of a 2022 review of 13 research studies:
- The majority of results indicate that advanced recycling technologies produce plastic and chemical products with reduced global warming potential compared to products made from virgin resources.
- Advanced recycling can reduce CO2 equivalent emissions compared to today’s typical end-of-life processes, such as landfill and waste-to-energy, by more than 100%.
Stronger Economy, More Jobs
In addition to reducing waste, advanced recycling facilities could have a significant impact on U.S. economic output and job creation. A 2022 review found that the U.S. could support more than 150 new advanced recycling and recovery facilities, which could result in:
- 48,500 jobs,
- $3.3 billion in annual payrolls, and
- $12.9 billion in annual U.S. economic output from new advanced recycling operations.
Investing Billions in New Technologies
The plastic recycling industry has announced more than $7 billion in these advanced technologies…in more than 40 projects that have the potential to divert approximately 21 billion pounds of waste from landfills and incinerators. These technologies could help us meet the goal of reusing, recycling or recovering 100% of plastic packaging in the U.S. by 2040.
Innovative Technologies = Dramatically Increased Recycling
Today’s recycling systems can recover some used plastics. But not anywhere near enough. That’s what makes burgeoning private investments in new innovative, advanced recycling technologies so exciting. These technologies can dramatically increase the types and amount of plastics that can be recycled. Which reduces the need for fossil resources… and keeps plastics out of our environment.
It’s called advanced recycling.
These technologies turn used solid plastic into its gas or liquid raw materials to be remade into brand new plastic for use in virtually any plastic product or packaging.
Multiple large consumer product companies already create packaging using recycled plastics created by these technologies. And they are clamoring for more to meet sustainability goals.
To date, 500+ companies have committed to making 100% of their packaging recyclable and including 25-50% recycled content in their packaging by 2025.
Advanced recycling can help these companies meet their sustainability goals.
Watch some of the people making sustainable change by helping bring advanced recycling technologies to life.
Remaking Our Future
Meet Jeremy: The Disruptor
Meet Eric: The Entrepreneur
Meet Jodie: The Leader
The plastic recycling industry is investing heavily in these technologies as part of efforts to meet the goal of reusing, recycling or recovering 100% of plastic packaging in the U.S. by 2040.
Since 2017, the industry has announced more than 40 projects valued at over $7B in investments, potentially diverting nearly 9M metric tons (~21 billion pounds) of waste from landfills (per year).
40+
projects
$7B
in investments
9M
Metric Tons diverted
LEARN MORE ABOUT ADVANCED RECYCLING
Take a deeper dive and learn more about how advanced recycling can tackle the 90% of plastics that aren’t recycled today.
Fact Sheets
The following series illustrates how advanced recycling turns used plastic into new plastic and provides more information about the environmental profile of this new manufacturing technology.
Fact Sheet•
Remaking Plastics to Meet Sustainability Goals
Fact Sheet•
Advanced Recycling of Plastics Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Fossil Energy Use
Fact Sheet•
Create a Modern Regulatory System To Develop a Circular Economy for Plastics
Sustainability•Waste Management•
9 Simple Tips to Recycle More Plastic
Safety•Sustainability•Waste Management•
The Story of Plastic (and Elephants)
Waste Management•
What’s the Right Way to Recycle Plastic Bags and Wraps (AKA Plastic Film Packaging)?
Sustainability•Waste Management•
Advanced Recycling: Let’s Connect Policy and Technology
Insights
Find out what’s happening in advanced recycling and how we’re making sustainable change.
