Pravin G. Kadam - PhD (Tech.)’s Post

Despite its promise, advanced plastic recycling through pyrolysis may not be the sustainable solution it's touted to be. This process, which breaks down plastics into fuels, faces significant economic, environmental, and efficiency challenges. High costs, energy demands, and low-quality outputs undermine its viability. We must rethink our approach to plastic waste and focus on more practical, eco-friendly methods. #Recycling #Sustainability #PlasticWaste #EnvironmentalImpact

Currently, only 9% of plastic worldwide is successfully recycled, while the rest is discarded, incinerated, or pollutes our environment. A recent report by CleanHub, highlights several key barriers to the recycling of plastic waste. A major challenge is that certain plastic materials, such as multi-layer packaging, are not recyclable due to their complex chemical compositions. Furthermore, many regions, particularly in developing countries, lack the necessary infrastructure to effectively collect, sort, and process plastic waste. This combination of material complexity and inadequate recycling systems significantly limits the overall efficiency of plastic recycling efforts. https://lnkd.in/ef9Z9u3K #plasticpollution #recycling #plasticwaste

There’s an Explosion of Plastic Waste. Big Companies Say ‘We’ve Got This.’ "...a new generation of recycling plants, called 'advanced' or 'chemical' recycling, that promise to recycle many more products than can be recycled today." "So far, advanced recycling is struggling to deliver on its promise. Nevertheless, the new technology is being hailed by the plastics industry as a solution to an exploding global waste problem." "...many of the new generation of recycling facilities are turning plastic into fuel, something the Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t consider to be recycling, though industry groups say some of that fuel can be turned into new plastic." #sustainability #plastics #recycling

James Piper published an opinion article in The Guardian last month discussing the shortcomings and challenges with recycling soft plastic in the UK. As we know, plastic is "one of the most environmentally damaging materials: its abundance and low cost lead people to discard it readily, without a care for the environmental consequences". Current waste sorting and recycling schemes are insufficient for handling single use plastic waste. He therefore discusses the need for governments to prioritize and stimulate investment in new methods and materials. He underscores the importance of critically reviewing the environmental impacts of potential material solutions to ensure that better environmental outcomes are actually achieved in production, consumption, and end of life. Biotic is one such solution that can help, our #PHBV polymers fully #biodegrade, meaning they do not require special recycling infrastructure. Together, we can turn the tide on plastic pollution and create a less wasteful, safer future. #plasticpollution #recycling #plasticinnovation #biotech https://lnkd.in/dAPjxP92

When big brands say 'we've got this' when it comes to plastic usage and waste, can we really trust them? This NYT article dives into the complexities of plastic recycling and how lab-based solutions can face challenges when scaling up to deal with actual plastic waste. Then there's the additional risk of creating more pollution in the recycling process, in this case with their proprietary solvent. The way forward isn't to give up, but to be hold recycling processes to high standards, so that we keep innovating to get to a point where it makes sense.

The New York Times wrote a feature article on the oil and gas industry’s chokehold on wanting to keep producing plastic and process it through “advanced recycling.” Let’s set the record straight. “Advanced recycling” is not recycling, but rather an energy-intensive process that involves turning plastic into other toxic chemicals which are often used to burn for fuel. This is not recycling, but the industry is trying to pass legislation to mark it as recycling. This is a last resort to keep using plastic. Read that again. This is a last-ditch effort to maintain a reliance on single-use plastics and to keep producing virgin plastic (new plastic). Most plastic can’t be recycled. It’s not durable enough to be used over and over again as it breaks down into microplastics. The solutions to the plastic crisis exist, but will require holding the plastics and oil and gas industry accountable for their pollution. While we hold the plastics and oil and gas companies accountable, we’re challenging all of you to pledge to not use single-use plastics for the rest of Earth Month. Do you accept the challenge? Can you do it? Check out the full article:

Let's learn how to transform what seems like an enemy into a friend. This principle is true for plastic waste, which can find new life through recycling or up-cycling methods. UppyBags / UppyThings provides an innovative addition to traditional recycling approaches. Discover more at uppybags.com.

🔬 Scientists Turn Trash into Treasure! The Problem: 60% of plastic ends up in landfills or as litter 🗑️ Only a small fraction gets recycled Most recycled plastic = park benches (low value) But Here's the Game-Changer! 👇 Scientists can now transform plastic waste into: ✨ Detergents ✨ Soaps ✨ Lubricants ✨ Ski wax This isn't just recycling - it's UPCYCLING! 🔄 Converting waste into valuable products could be the key to getting more companies & people on board with recycling. ♻️ The future of plastic waste might be cleaner than we think! #Sustainability #ScienceNews #PlasticWaste #CleanFuture #Chemwatch https://lnkd.in/g95e7UKv

What happens with your plastic after first used? Plastic recycling is key to a circular economy and is high on the agenda for the 21st century. According to Woodmac.com, it is still a troublesome process that comes not without its own harms to the environment. It is however used as a viable solution to support circularity of waste, and prevent the use of new resources. At UppyThings we increase the value of plastics by up-cycling, using a low carbon process. Moreover, we earn carbon credits by prolonging the life of material in its original form. Additionally, we are planning to research in-depth for future developments. For now please follow the link and enjoy learning more about plastic recycling, as it is good to know what happens after your plastic waste enters recycling journey #UppyBags ##Upcycling #PlasticRecycling #PlasticWaste

Round out your #PlasticFreeJuly with a look forward at the waste sector’s optimism about AI-driven plastic #recycling 💡 In a major feature for American Recycler News, Inc., regenerative economy expert Anthony (Tony) Perrotta highlighted the opportunity to leverage systems like Greyparrot Analyzer to make mechanical recycling more efficient. Our co-founder Ambarish Mitra also shared reasons to be hopeful about increasing the USA’s 5-6% plastic recycling rate: 🏛 Prevention is the best way to stop plastic pollution and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bills in several states encourage brands to adopt recyclable designs that avoid unnecessary plastic, and waste data now shows packaging producers where their products end up 🌿 🤖 Thanks to AI, sorting technology has caught up with materials like black plastic, which evade systems like optical sorters and end up in landfill 🔍 🔬 Advanced chemical recycling and pyrolysis are helping us turn even more polymers back into high-quality resources, certified by granular waste data. Learn how Ambarish Mitra, Anthony (Tony) Perrotta, Caroline DeLoach and more believe we can make plastic recycling — and prevention — more viable in the full breakdown 👇 https://lnkd.in/gR8BZr7x