The plastic recycling conversation: The common types of plastic in the environment

The plastic recycling conversation: The common types of plastic in the environment

When assessing the subject of plastic recycling, it becomes imperative to highlight that plastic is one of the most commonly used and recycled materials. It however follows that not every type of plastic can be recycled. The rationale is founded on the fact that plastics are not all created equal. This highlights the need to understand the types that can be recycled to ensure that we are employing the appropriate measures to reduce the overall presence of plastic waste in the environment. While there are those plastics that can be recycled easily, there are others that are either challenging or impossible to recycle. The concept of plastic recycling can at best be deemed viable in principle. In practice, however, numerous barriers inhibit this process. The main source of plastic used in recycling is post-consumer products. The assertion is that it is not always economical, technical, or environmentally objective to recycle all types of waste. Conventionally, seven forms of waste are used globally. These tend to differ in color, size, usage, and ultimate disposal. These different types of plastic include:

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

Plastics under this classification are composed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It is the most extensively used globally and predominantly found in food and drink packaging owing to its capability to prevent oxygen from entering the packaging and spoiling the packaged product. It is mostly found in beverage bottles.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)

The term is used to refer to the particularly resistant resin that is used for milk jugs, grocery bags, agricultural piping, trays, recycling bins, shampoo bottles, etc. Since it is made with extended unbalanced polymer chains, it is deemed to be significantly stronger and thicker compared to PET. HDPE is considered one of the easiest plastics to recycle

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

PCV tends to be the world’s third-most extensively generated synthetic polymer material. It is developed in two main types that include the rigid type which is mainly used in building and construction projects. Some of the PCV products in the building and construction industry include window and door profiles as well as drinking and wastewater pipes[1]. Considering that in the recent past, PVC has been replacing conventional building materials like metal, wood, concrete, ceramics, etc, it is evident that the amount of waste will only grow. The concern is exacerbated by the fact that while PVC has numerous advantages, it is not easily recyclable and thus needs to be avoided if possible.

LDPE

Unlike the case with HDPE, LDPE has low-density molecules, which makes it thinner and more flexible. It is depicted by the simplest structure in plastics, which makes it cheap and easy to produce. It is commonly used in plastic bags and containers. It follows that LDPE is not easily recycled through conventional methods.

Polypropylene (PP)

PP is the second most extensively generated plastic commodity and its market has been projected to grow massively in the coming years. The product is hardy and sturdy, allowing it to withstand high temperatures, and can be found in chairs, crates, thermal vests, car parts, yogurt containers, disposable diapers, etc.

Polystyrene (PS)

Polystyrene can be found either in foamed or solid forms. It is deemed inexpensive and easy to create, an attribute that makes it easy to find. It can be found in egg cartons, beverage cups, packaging materials, and disposable dinnerware. The most commonly known name for this type of plastic is Styrofoam; it is highly flammable and tends to leach harmful chemicals especially if it is heated. It is one of the most environmentally destructive plastics since it is non-biodegradable. Further, the foam when blown in the wind ends up floating. This type of plastic is not recycled under any recycling programs especially considering it cannot be separated. It should not be handled.

Polycarbonates (PC)

Polycarbonates are used in building strong and tough products. They are predominantly used in making eye protection products like sunglass lenses, and safety and sports goggles. In the recent past, there have been concerns over the use of these plastics, occasioned by the leaching aspect of burned. When burnt, this plastic product bisphenol A, which is a compound classified as being environmentally hazardous[2]. They can result in significant environmental contamination which ends up affecting humans and animals.

Contribution of The Kenya Plastics Pact

The Kenya Plastics Pact has gone ahead to publish a list of problematic and unnecessary plastic items that are to be banned in the country. These will be in addition to the already prevailing government’s plastic ban on selected single-use plastic items that can into effect in 2017. This list has been disaggregated into plastic packing items, non-packaging items, and additives. The plastic packaging items include polyvinyl chloride (PVC) rigid packaging that includes bottles, polystyrene (PS) packaging, plastic packaging for fast foods, expanded polyethylene (EPS), and secondary plastic cling film that is found in takeaway packaging[3]. The list further contains polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) found in rigid packaging, consumer plastic multi-wrap around cans, tins, bottles, and cartons in multi-sales, and PVC and PETG shrink sleeves on PET bottles. The items that are found in non-packaging plastic include disposal plastic plates, cutlery and bowls, plastic stirrers, plastic straws, and plastic cotton bud sticks[4].

[1] https://waste4change.com/blog/7-types-plastic-need-know/s [2] https://waste4change.com/blog/7-types-plastic-need-know/ [3] https://kpp.or.ke/2022/11/15/government-endorses-elimination-of-problematic-plastics-by-the-kenya-plastics-pact/#:~:text=Governments%20Endorses%20Elimination%20of%20Problematic%20Plastics%20by%20the%20Kenya%20Plastics%20Pact,-Scroll&text=Nairobi%2C%20Kenya%20%E2%80%93%2015th%20November,to%20be%20eliminated%20in%20Kenya. [4]https://kpp.or.ke/2022/11/15/government-endorses-elimination-of-problematic-plastics-by-the-kenya-plastics-pact/#:~:text=Governments%20Endorses%20Elimination%20of%20Problematic%20Plastics%20by%20the%20Kenya%20Plastics%20Pact,-Scroll&text=Nairobi%2C%20Kenya%20%E2%80%93%2015th%20November,to%20be%20eliminated%20in%20Kenya.