Plastic waste management

Final Report

Julian John Barera

60306372

College of General Education

University of Doha for Science and Technology

COMM1020-29

Dr. Sana Chakroun

March 23 , 2024
 Table of content

Introduction 3

Background 3

Discussion 3

Mechanical recycling 4

Chemical recycling 5

Monomer recycling 6

Analysis with Selection Matrix 7

Recommendation 7

References 8

List of tables and figurs

Figer 1: Diagram showing how plastic waste

is being transformed into coverable plastic 4

Figer 2: Diagram showing process of monomer recycling 6

Table 1: Analysis with Selection Matrix 7

Introduction
To preserve the environment, plastic waste management requires a thorough and long-

term solution. We'll be thinking about the following fixes. 1) mechanical Recycling 2) chemical

recycling 3) monomer Recycling. Based on factors including effectiveness, cost-effectiveness,

and efficiency, we have chosen this option. At the conclusion of the study, we will suggest the

optimal approach for managing plastic garbage.

Background

According to Bernat (April 2023), Over 40% of plastic products are thought to have a

lifespan of less than one month, which contributes to the large amount of plastic trash produced

on Earth as a result of the short lifespan of many plastic materials and products. Certain products,

like automotive parts, have an active lives of up to 10 years, while other products, like filters,

have an active duration of only one to two years. Additionally, the plastic materials used in these

products are more challenging to recycle. Packaging accounts for the majority of plastic waste

(61%) which is a minor issue because most packaging is for single-use items. As a result,

treating these waste products in an efficient and effective manner is necessary to resolve this

issue.

Discussion

This part of the report will discuss the three possible solutions to the problem and give details

about the criteria that are going to be used to compare them.

Mechanical Recycling

According to Bernat (April 2023), Pretreatment procedures like sorting and washing are part of

mechanical recycling in order to get rid of impurities and unnecessary materials. Mechanical

recycling makes use of a variety of methods, each having pros and cons, such as flotation, melt

filtering, FT-NIR, triboelectric separation, density-based approaches, magnetic separation, and

X-ray detection. This process allows us to make new products out of the used plastic waste.

Figure 1

Diagram showing how plastic waste is being transformed into coverable plastic.

Note: This diagram was taken from

https://corporate.evonik.com/en/sustainability/circular-plastics/circularity-expertise/mechanical-

recycling/mechanical-recycling-176348.html
Chemical recycling

According to lihui lu et al (2023), The process of transforming polymeric waste into materials

that can be utilized as raw materials for the production of plastics or other products involves

modifying the chemical structure of the waste. This is known as chemical recycling. degradation

Pyrolysis By applying heat in the absence of oxygen, organic materials—including plastics—are

broken down into smaller molecules through a process known as degradation pyrolysis. Gases,

liquids (oils), and solid residues are the products of this heat breakdown. The goal of degradation

pyrolysis, a type of chemical recycling, is to turn waste plastic into useful materials including

chemicals, fuels, and feedstocks for making new plastics. Degradation pyrolysis presents a viable

way to deal with the problems that plastic pollution poses to the environment by dissolving

plastic waste into its constituent molecules. It lessens the need for fossil fuels in the

manufacturing of new polymers while permitting the recovery of valuable resources from waste

streams. Furthermore, the variety of the products produced by degrading pyrolysis makes it a

useful instrument in the transition to a more sustainable and circular economy. To fully exploit

the potential of degrading pyrolysis as a sustainable waste management option, difficulties like

process optimization, scalability, and economic viability must be solved.

Monomer recycling

According to Geyer et al (2017), Monomer recycling, also known as chemical recycling, is

separating polymer chains of plastic materials into their original monomer units, which may then

be reused to make new plastics or other valuable goods. Unlike typical mechanical recycling

procedures, which involve melting and reforming plastic, monomer recycling uses a variety of
chemical processes to dismantle polymer molecules. This method is especially useful for

polymers that are difficult to recycle mechanically or have gone through several cycles of usage,

resulting in deteriorated characteristics. Monomer recycling has the potential to minimize plastic

waste and lower demand for virgin plastic manufacture, therefore minimizing the environmental

effects of plastic pollution and resource depletion.

Figure 2

Diagram showing process of monomer recycling

Note: This diagram was taken from

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-presented-closed-loop-recycling-concept-Long-chain-

aliphatic-building-blocks_fig1_349393602

Analysis with Selection Matrix:

aspect Mechanical recycling Chemical recycling Monomer recycling

Efficiency Moderate energy is required The energy required Requires moderate

in this process depends on the type of level of energy for

Plastic purification process

Cost High Low Medium

efficiency

Effectiveness Quality degradation over Potential for high High quality

time quality products products

Note: the information given in the table are taken from, Post-consumer Plastic Waste

Management: From collection and sortation to mechanical recycling (2023), Chemical Recycling

Technologies for PVC waste and PVC-containing plastic waste (2023) and boosting the selective

catalytic pyrolysis of plastic waste polylactic acid to monomer (2023)

Recommendation:

After careful analysis of the information provided above, we have decided to recommend

monomer recycling in the end. Because it can produce high quality products such as high-quality

bottles, high quality phone cases etc. And its cost efficiency is good for the products being

produced. It is more ecofriendly as it produces less waste in the form of chemicals.

 References

Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017). Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever
made. Science Advances, 3(7). https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782

Bernat, K. (2023). Post-consumer Plastic Waste Management: From collection and sortation to
mechanical recycling. Energies, 16(8), 3504. https://doi.org/10.3390/en1608350

Lu, L., Li, W., Cheng, Y., & Liu, M. (2023b). Chemical Recycling Technologies for PVC
waste and PVC-containing plastic waste: A Review. Waste Management, 166, 245–258.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2023.05.012

Su, T., Lu, G.-P., Sun, K., Wu, P., & Cai, C. (2023). Boosting the selective catalytic pyrolysis
of plastic waste polylactic acid to monomer. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering,
11(6), 111397.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2023.11139

A study on Restructuring Plastic Waste Management post covid in the wake of industry 4.
(2023). 3, 2(3), 46–50.https://doi.org/10.46632/jbab/2/3/6

Figures

Mechanical Recycling - Evonik Industries. (2023, March 16).

https://corporate.evonik.com/en/sustainability/circular-plastics/circularity-
expertise/mechanical-recycling/mechanical-recycling-176348.html

The presented closed-loop recycling concept Long-chain aliphatic. . . (n.d.).

ResearchGate.https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-presented-closed-loop-
recycling-concept-Long-chain-aliphatic-building-blocks_fig1_349393602