New way to recycle plastic!
Scientists at Northwestern University have found a new, cheap, and safe way to recycle PET plastic. This method works on real plastic waste like bottles, clothes, and mixed plastics.
PET plastic is a common type of plastic. It makes up 12% of all plastic in the world. Because it does not break down, it causes a lot of pollution.
How does the technique work?
First, PET plastic is mixed with a cheap chemical and activated carbon. Then, it is heated to break the plastic into small parts. When these parts touch air, they turn into an acid used to make polyesters.
This acid can be reused or made into other useful things. The only waste to come out of this process is ethanal, a chemical used to make perfumes, dyes, rubbers, and plastics.
How much plastic is recycled now?
Only 9% of plastic in the world is recycled, says the OECD. The other 91% is burned, buried, or lost in nature.
There are many reasons for this low recycling rate:
- Some plastics cannot be recycled. Others are not recycled because of poor facilities.
- It costs more to recycle plastic than to make new plastic.
- Many people do not know how to recycle plastic.
How does plastic waste harm the environment?
About 22% of plastic waste is not processed. Some of this plastic goes into the ocean and hurts sea animals. Some plastic breaks into small pieces called microplastics. These microplastics pollute the air, soil, and our bodies.
Current ways of managing plastic waste also harm the planet. Burning plastic releases harmful gases. Landfills release methane gas, which adds to climate change.
We need better and cheaper ways to recycle plastic. This new method could help the planet if scientists can make it work on a bigger scale.
