Table 1 Summary of the main plastic and bioplastics waste management operations (P, plastics; B, bioplastic)
End-of-life option | Suitable for | Advantages | Disadvantages | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Landfilling and Incineration | P | Economically sound Volume minimization Rapid disposal Minimum land requirement Technology not required Contaminated and toxic material can be treated Electricity generation | Environmental problems, such as air, soil and water pollution Shortens the lifespan of the plastics Lots of energy required Gases released as a byproduct can be dangerous and their exposure to living beings may result in breathing disorders Generation of toxic leachate of hazardous nature Disposal in landfills results in deterioration of land and increase the risk of consumption of plastics by animals | |
Mechanical Recycling | P > B | Same material can be recycled up to 7 times before it degrades to the point that mechanical recycling is not an option anymore | Needs sorting and labor intensive: the resins must also be separated, and single-polymer waste stream is needed to optimum efficiency Causes material and quality loss Contaminated plastics cannot be treated Low efficiency, recycled materials are downgraded It occurs at about 200–300 °C resulting in emission of toxic gases | |
Chemical or Feedstock Recycling | B > P | Recycled material quality is higher than mechanical recycling option as polymers broken into monomers Mixed and contaminated material can be used without sorting, thus offers a potential for household wastes and bioplastics | Economic feasibility needs to be assessed Some technologies are still being development, and some have high energy use, costs, and technology demand |