How are plastics recycled?

Plastics can be recycled by various methods, depending on the type of plastic and the recycling facility. Improvements in collection schemes and sorting technologies are essential to achieve higher recycling rates. Plastic waste recycling rates are ten times higher when collected separately compared to mixed collection schemes.

Mechanical recycling

is the most common approach for recycling plastics like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). PET and HDPE are typically used to make soft drinks bottles or containers and are relatively easy to recycle.

Mechanical recycling is processing plastics waste into secondary raw materials or products without significantly changing the material’s chemical structure. In principle, all types of thermoplastics can be mechanically recycled with little or no impact on quality.

Collection

Collection of end-of-life plastic products from separate and mixed waste streams

First sorting

Once plastic waste arrives at the recycling plant, it is sorted – separation by colour or thickness is necessary

Shredding

Plastics need to be shredded into smaller pieces before they can go on for reuse

Washing

Washing removes dust and dirt to ensure plastics are clean before they go onto the next stage. This can include removing traces of food, drink or labels

Second sorting and control

Plastics are sorted again and controlled before being sent for extrusion

Extrusion

Plastic flakes are finally converted into homogenous pellets ready to use in the manufacture of new products

Chemical recycling

Chemical recycling is a growing approach to recycling and offers greater opportunity for scalability. Chemical recycling converts polymeric waste by changing its chemical structure and turning it back into substances that can be used as raw materials for manufacturing plastics or other products. Different chemical recycling technologies exist, e.g. pyrolysis, gasification, hydro-cracking and depolymerisation.

Chemical recycling is the process of converting polymeric waste by changing its chemical structure and turning it back into substances that can be used as raw materials for the manufacturing of plastics or other products. There are different chemical recycling technologies, e.g. pyrolysis, gasification, hydro-cracking and depolymerisation.

What are the benefits of chemical recycling?

Chemical recycling complements other plastic recycling options like mechanical, dissolution and organic recycling. Since it can deal with complex plastic waste streams, like films or laminates, chemical recycling can be used for plastic waste, which would otherwise result in incineration or landfill. With 67.5% of post-consumer plastic waste going to landfill and energy recovery across Europe, there is a clear potential for improvement.

Because chemical recycling breaks down polymers into their building blocks, it also allows the production of recycled plastic (recyclate) with virgin plastic properties that can be used in demanding applications, such as food contact.

The European Commission has set very ambitious circularity objectives for plastics. Regulatory targets of the recently revised waste directives are 10% max landfilling of municipal waste by 2035, 50% recycling of plastic packaging by 2025 and 55% by 2030. In this context, chemical recycling represents a positive step towards reducing disposed waste and contributing to a circular economy for plastics. There is also a huge potential for new jobs as the sector develops.

Significant investments in recycling technology

We have seen a significant increase in planned chemical recycling investment: from EUR 2.6 billion in 2025 to EUR 8 billion in 2030. The production of recycled plastics is estimated to increase to 0.9 Mt in 2025 and 2.8 Mt in 2030. With this planned contribution, Plastics Europe plays a leading role in delivering on the European Commission’s Circular Plastics Alliance target of 10 Mt recycled plastics used in European products by 2025. Conversion to feedstock technologies (pyrolysis, gasification) represents 80% of the planned capacities.

There are many ongoing projects in the plastics and recycling industries to make this technology more widespread – we have 44 planned projects in 13 EU countries.

Dissolution recycling

Dissolution recycling is a purification process through which the polymer present in a mixed plastics waste is selectively dissolved in a solvent, allowing it to be separated from the waste and recovered in a pure form without changing its chemical nature.

Organic recycling

Organic recycling is the controlled microbiological treatment of biodegradable plastic waste under aerobic or anaerobic (composting) conditions (biogasification). It applies to specific polymers that can be converted, under the actions of microorganisms, into stabilised organic residues, carbon dioxide, methane and water.

Boosting sustainability

The transition to a sustainable and circular plastics economy demands focus, collaboration and sizeable, long-term investments in systems and technology that can deliver the transition to a zero-waste future. We are fully committed to addressing the immense challenges of waste management, circularity and ending plastic waste in the environment.

While we are fully aware of the challenges, it is also essential to recognise our industry’s contribution to sustainability. This includes helping to reduce food waste through plastic packaging while reducing carbon emissions. For example, cars using lower-weight materials, the energy lost from buildings, and the electrification of our energy grid and transport systems. Plastic is an essential material to ensure a sustainable future.