Bicycle path uses recycled plastics in construction of a water drainage system installed below the paving blocks. Courtesy of CirculinQ B.V.
Infrastructure is an evolving market for recycling, with the potential to divert a considerable amount of plastics waste from landfills and incineration and into roads, asphalt, drainage pipes, mass transit routes and other applications. Demand for post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics here could create markets for the materials and provide opportunities for companies that collect, process and supply them.
At the same time, there are challenges. Among them is the ability to qualify PCR materials as being of consistent quality and beneficial for infrastructure; establishing effective collection and recycling networks that maintain a supply of reliable material; passing supportive state laws and regulations that promote recycled plastics for infrastructure; selling consumers and businesses on better collection and reuse of waste plastics; and designing polymers and products that can be broken down and converted easily into viable PCR materials.
These are among conclusions in a pre-publication report titled, “Recycled Plastics in Infrastructure: Current Practices, Understanding and Opportunities,” released last month by the National Academy of Sciences. In previous postings (July 25 and 26) we examined the potential for waste plastics as a PCR supply source, as well as the need for a holistic assessment of recycled plastics to assure quality and life-cycle benefits in infrastructure. In this final look at the report, we’ll discuss recommendations by the National Academy to promote PCR for infrastructure.
More than 90 percent of waste plastics are landfilled or incinerated. Efforts to improve quality of recyclate and develop markets like infrastructure would reduce this. Courtesy of Victor Sanfins Cecon
The report states that “plastics at end of use comprise a resource that is … underutilized.” More than 90 percent end up in landfills …” despite “significant demand for certain types of recycled plastics that is not being met with the current management system.” There is, consequently, “ample opportunity for higher levels of collection, reprocessing and reuse of plastics …”
This sounds encouraging for infrastructure, but the report adds that establishing meaningful reuse objectives “depends on goals, policy and economics.” Unless these are stated and accepted by consumers, businesses and regulators, “it [will] not [be] clear that this reuse pathway offers the greatest benefit to society” and thus could fail to boost the supply of quality PCR for infrastructure (and other uses).
Also of concern is the degree of acceptance of PCR plastics by infrastructure businesses as an option for use with, or in place of, conventional materials. Factors here include lack of familiarity with PCR plastics, concerns about long-term performance and environmental impact, and relatively high installation costs—at least initially.
The report recommends ways of dealing with these concerns. Chief among them:
Infrastructure could be one important way of increasing the volume of recycled plastics and ending the waste of such valuable resources in landfills and incinerators. As the report makes clear, it will require cooperative efforts of the plastics industry, regulators and federal agencies to develop the standards and confidence that infrastructure companies need to invest in applications that would be good for business and for society.
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