Major plastics manufacturers and materials science companies have jointly established the Closed Loop Circular Plastics Fund to promote recovery and recycling of plastics in the U.S. and Canada.  Initial participants include Dow, LyondellBasell and Nova Chemicals.

The Closed Loop Circular Plastics Fund, initially receiving $25 million, will address three areas to promote practical recycling:-

• Intensified collection of polyethylene and polypropylene requiring advanced collection systems, transportation and logistics
• Upgrading recycling systems to aggregate, classify and sort waste plastics for remanufacturing food and medical packaging
• Investing in plants and equipment to manufacture finished products using recycled content

This initiative is regarded as a sincere attempt to address the problem of accumulated plastic waste. It is estimated that less than ten percent of all plastic ever produced has been recycled. The remainder lies in our oceans and in dumps and landfills especially in under-developed nations.

Previous programs to ‘recycle’ plastics were essentially an exercise in public relations. The classification of plastics by class was created to assuage the concerns of consumers through the illusion that plastic items embossed with the three-arrow triangle and placed in recycling bins would be processed into new containers and packaging. The reality is that current ‘recycling” is only a collection activity and that municipalities have a limited and shrinking market for a few types of plastic waste. This is due to the failure of manufacturers of plastics to develop recycling technology and to invest in plants capable of processing waste into reusable material.

In recent years concern over the detrimental effects of plastic waste on terrestrial and marine environments has resulted in a backlash against plastics. This is evidenced by legislation restricting the distribution of single-use plastics, commitments by food manufacturers to phase out non-biodegradable packaging and negative publicity on social media. Concern expressed by governments, enterprises and consumers has stimulated belated action by the manufacturers of plastics to develop meaningful programs of recycling. It is to the credit of these major petrochemical companies that they recognize that they cannot continue to erect manufacturing plants for plastics without the need for recycling of their products. To date there has been every incentive to continue to manufacture virgin plastics and no financial benefit from recycling. With appropriate demand for a closed loop system from governments, customers and consumers we can expect progress in meaningful recycling.  Not only must we collect and process what we use but we must address the disposal of accumulated plastic worldwide.