Recycled plastics - weeding out the toxic chemicals

Plastics recycling is touted as one solution to the problems associated with widespread plastic pollution.

Plastics now pollute every niche on the planet and impacts in marine aquatic environments are well documented, as is the widespread contamination of water, sediment and organisms with plastic-associated chemicals. This underlies the efforts to increase reuse and recycling of plastics in the circular economy.

The complexity of plastics, regarding polymers and chemical additives or contaminants, thwarts efforts to do this in a safe and viable manner.

The vision and overall aim of this project is to drastically reduce the production, trade and use of toxic “non-circular” plastics, i.e. plastics that cannot be recycled due to content of hazardous chemicals, and protect the integrity of a non-toxic circular economy via an extended producer responsibility approach.

To do so, we will investigate recycled plastic pellets from small scale recycling centers in the Global South.

We will analyze the materials for polymer composition and chemical contamination, informing the degree of contamination.

We will then address toxic chemicals in the plastics and potential environmental impacts on aquatic species from three different trophic levels and sensitivities.

Finally, we will evaluate policy mechanisms to support safe and efficient recycling, communicating results to important stakeholders. The expected outcomes will provide valuable knowledge, in line with SDGs 3, 6, 12 and 14.