Chemical recycling aims to convert plastic waste into chemicals or raw materials for the chemical industry using different technologies such as solvolysis, liquefaction, pyrolysis, and gasification. It could reduce primary plastic production and climate-affecting emissions and detoxify material flows. However, its feasibility depends on specific conditions and its ability to treat heavily contaminated waste fractions is not sufficiently backed up by evidence. Chemical recycling also lacks an internationally recognized or legal definition. Currently, the technical feasibility and economic viability are not proven and the environmental assessment is ambiguous.
Despite high expenditure associated with the preparation of input materials and the cleaning of the generated products, operating problems and the limited availability of suitable input materials for the chemical recycling processes, a large number of processes is currently under development and corresponding pilot plants are realized. Associated opportunities and risks depend on the specific environment, the general conditions of the respective countries, and the respect of plant safety and emission standards, which prejudge the avoidance of direct negative impacts of chemical recycling process operation on the environment.
The establishment of structures for chemical recycling of plastics in countries with insufficient infrastructures and governmental controls to ensure environmentally sound operation raises concerns as it could result in uncontrollable environmental risks. Also, it could encourage the export of plastic waste for recycling to such countries, with the risk of ending up in the environment.
Given that an end-of-waste criteria for products from chemical recycling and allocation rules for recycled content of the products are defined to ensure equal opportunities for all chemical recycling plants as well as planning security for companies; and that the operation of chemical recycling plants follows established rules of engineering and principles of environmental and emissions legislation, chemical recycling processes may contribute to the recycling of plastic waste. However, excessive subsidies for chemical recycling of plastics are currently not justified.
This side event to the Basel OEWG-14 organized in the framework of the Geneva Beat Plastic Pollution Dialogues will launch “Status, Potentials and Risks of Chemical Recycling of Waste Plastics“, a study on the evaluation of approaches for the feedstock recycling of plastic waste commissioned by Switzerland. It will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss chemical recycling of waste plastics and to identify potential benefits, risks and experiences.
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