8.5.6 Emissions
Plastic manufacturing of virgin materials contributes to
at least 100 million tons of CO2 emissions and about 14%
of toxic releases into the atmosphere every year (“Ecotextiles,
Plastics – Part 2: Why recycling is not the answer”).
These numbers could be reduced if more plastic was recycled
(EPA). Maximum achievable reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions from recycled plastic material compared
to virgin plastics are about 60% (Recovery, 2012).
While the emissions are reduced when recycling plastic,
a plant that renders plastic will be subject to numerous
emissions regulations (Recycling).
The plastics gathered would be an un-separated assortment
of plastics from various sources and may pose
some real challenges to recycling and disposing (DePaolo,
1995). In particular, the fact that this plastic may come
‘burdened’ with ‘unwanteds’—such as bacteria, toxins
(in addition to original manufacture PCBs), invasive species—
may pose additional challenges to recycling for reuse
(DePaolo, 1995).
8.6.7 Market
For manufacturers, it is still more economically efficient
to use virgin materials than recycled plastics. However,
there is an increasing trend to use recycled plastic as
technology improves and cost decreases. There is an ongoing
effort to recycle more types of plastic, such as lids
and buckets, to create new equipment for automobile
parts, playground equipment, and carpets (EPA).
8.5.8 Distr ibution of Original and Processed Material
As mentioned earlier, plastics harvested from the ocean
may contain toxic substances. Distribution of raw plastic
material for treatment or recycling in the United States
will be limited to companies with special permits from the
EPA (EPA, 2012b).