Economic and environmental feasibility of recycling flexible plastic packaging from single stream collection

Lin, Yingqian; Severson, Michael H.; Nguyen, Ruby Thuy; Johnson, Anne; King, Christopher; Coddington, Beth; Hu, Hongqiang; Madden, Brennan

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.106908

Economic and environmental feasibility of recycling flexible plastic packaging from single stream collection

Journal Article · 13 February 2023 · Resources, Conservation and Recycling

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2023.106908· OSTI ID:1957499

^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]; Johnson, Anne ^[2]; King, Christopher ^[2]; Coddington, Beth ^[2]; Hu, Hongqiang ^[1]; ^[2]

Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Resource Recycling Systems (RRS), Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

As demand for plastic increases, there is an urgent need to ramp up its collection and recycling rate. This study reports results of a pilot study in the United States to recycle flexible plastic packaging (FPP) from single stream curbside collection focusing on both the economic feasibility and carbon footprint. To explore the marketability of recycled FPP, four down-stream market pathways were studied, including roof coverboard, plastic pellets, pallets, and film. In this work, results indicated that (1) the cleaning and pelletizing process at reclaimers contributed the most to the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of recycled FPP products, and (2) the GHG emissions of recycled FPP products in all four pathways are lower than the comparator products. Therefore, using a higher percentage of recycled FPP substituted in a product can result in greater GHG emission reductions. All the recycled FPP products also showed favorable economics compared to their direct competitors.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC07-05ID14517; EE0007897

OSTI ID:: 1957499

Report Number(s):: INL/JOU-21-64510-Rev000

Journal Information:: Resources, Conservation and Recycling, Journal Name: Resources, Conservation and Recycling Vol. 192; ISSN 0921-3449

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: Netherlands

Language:: English

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32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
carbon footprints
flexible plastic packaging
global climate change studies and climate mitigation
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Economic and environmental feasibility of recycling flexible plastic packaging from single stream collection

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