Plastic Recycling

Trash: each Person 3.5 lbs/day; 0.5 ton/yer

300 billion lbs/yr

100,000 tons/week NYC

≥Municipal Solid Waste≤

80% landfills; 10% incinerated; 10% recycled

the ≥Garbage Crisis≤

Plastics generally believed to be bulk of the problem.

Along roadsides, oceans, the plastics accumulate, organics disappear

William Rathke, University of Arizona

Moira Nir, MIT

By volume:

Paper 50% newspaper, copy paper, cardboard, etc.

Misc. 20% cellar dirt, tires, textiles, diapers

Organic 13% food, yard waste, wood

Plastic 10%

Metal 6%

Glass 1%

Whole heads of lettuce, half eaten hotdogs, dinner rolls, steaks, newspapers readable after 40 yr

Thermoplastics recyclable:

Soda Bottles can become bathtubs, shower stalls, fibers

Polyethylene high density (shopping bags) Yes Trash bins, Carts

Low density no

Polystyrene: yes Styrofoam

Problem is sorting

Mixed plastics can be recycled: melt it all together: plastic lumber