Environmental impacts of plastic recycling – a literature review

This report examines the environmental impacts of plastic recycling technologies, focusing on mechanical and chemical recycling methods. The study synthesizes findings from recent Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies and
literature reviews to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge.
Mechanical recycling generally has lower environmental impacts than landfilling and incineration, but its effectiveness depends on energy efficiency, renewable energy use, and the quality of recycled materials. Chemical recycling offers
environmental benefits and versatility in managing diverse plastic waste, though optimization and further research are needed. Comparative analyses reveal that a combination of mechanical and chemical recycling may provide the best
outcomes for mixed plastic waste.
High-quality LCA studies are essential for informing sustainable waste management, with attention to data quality, system boundaries, allocation methods, and transparency. Improving recycling performance involves increasing mechanical recycling, reducing energy use and emissions in chemical recycling, optimizing sorting and pre-treatment, enhancing market substitutability, transitioning away from landfilling, and using renewable energy sources, thereby supporting circular economy and sustainability goals.
To enhance the environmental performance of plastic recycling, the following recommendations are based on the findings of the analyses of the LCA studies: 1) Increasing the share of mechanical recycling; 2) Optimising sorting and
pre-treatment processes; 3) Reducing energy use in recycling processes; 4) Adopting renewable energy sources; 5) Improving the quality of recycled materials; 6) Transitioning away from landfilling towards advanced recycling
technologies; 7) Minimising transportation distances in waste management. These strategies can contribute to reducing the environmental footprint of plastic waste and support the broader goals of circular economy and
sustainable development.