restoring plastics to virgin quality

MAKING IT BETTER, Otis asks? YES Indeed! 

What is Chemical Recycling?

Chemical recycling is a type of advanced recycling where newer technology is used to convert plastic waste into feedstocks used to make new plastic items. It’s a fast-growing, innovative process that’s a rapidly growing field within the recycling industry.

In 2023, the chemical recycling market size topped 14.8 billion. It’s growing at a rate (CAGR) of around 9.4% from 2024 through 2030. As more people recycle plastics correctly, the more growth this recycling process experiences.

Why is it such an important type of recycling? Chemical recycling can break down the plastics that are hard to recycle, such as mixed plastics like #7. It can recycle contaminated plastics, like food containers. Because so many plastic items are recyclable, it reduces the amount of plastic going into a landfill or incinerator.

Another benefit is that this advanced recycling process is better at restoring plastics to virgin quality.  It’s not a weak material.  It has absolutely no difference from brand-new plastic.  As virgin plastic requires fossil fuels to develop it, recycling plastics through chemical recycling reduces reliance on fossil fuels for plastics manufacturing

Chemical recycling is not restricted to one process. There are several different options. The most used are:

• Depolymerization: Specific types of plastic are broken down into their original building blocks, purified, and used to create new, high-quality plastics.
• Dissolution: Solvents are used to dissolve plastics and remove impurities. The plastic material is then recovered for reuse.
• Gasification: Plastics are heated with steam and oxygen and converted to a synthetic gas that can be used to make different fuels or chemicals.
• Pyrolysis: Plastic is heated without any oxygen, breaking it down into gases, oils, and solids.

LOTS MORE:

• https://recyclenation.com/2025/07/the-rise-of-chemical-recycling-what-recyclers-should-know/