Come viene riciclata la plastica? Il ciclo di vita dei rifiuti: raccolta, smaltimento e riuso

Geopop

7 Jul 202108:30

Summary

TLDRThis video script dispels the myth that recycling plastic containers is futile, revealing that Europe recycles 30-40% of its plastic waste, contrasting with the US's 9%. It outlines the recycling process, emphasizing the importance of proper waste sorting. The script explains how plastic is sorted by size and type, cleaned, and transformed into pellets for new products. It also addresses the environmental impact of incineration, comparing the energy efficiency of recycling versus burning plastic, and hints at a future episode on paper recycling.

Takeaways

🌍 Currently, Europe recycles between 30-40% of the plastic it produces, while the rest is incinerated or ends up in landfills.
🇺🇸 In contrast, the United States recycles only around 9% of its plastic waste, and the rate is even lower in developing countries.
🔄 The recycling process can be improved globally, especially considering that plastic production is expected to double in the next 20 years.
🗑️ The first step in plastic recycling is proper waste sorting and collection, which is crucial for efficient recycling.
🚮 Contrary to common misconceptions, waste does not get mixed after collection; proper sorting is essential for recycling.
🔍 At recycling plants, plastic is first separated by size using rotating filters, similar to a salad spinner.
🌐 An infrared scanner is used to identify and separate different types of plastics, such as PET and HDPE, using compressed air jets.
♻️ After initial processing, workers manually check for any remaining foreign materials that cannot be recycled and are sent to incinerators.
🔨 The selected plastic waste is then shredded and transformed into 'flakes' or 'pellets', which can be used to produce new plastic products.
👟 Recycled plastic has a wide range of uses, from shoes and blankets to scooter parts, furniture, and eyeglasses.
🏭 Not all plastics can be recycled; some, like multi-layered packaging or certain types labeled as '7', are often incinerated or thermovalorized to generate energy.

Q & A

What is the current recycling rate of plastic in Europe?
-Currently, Europe is able to recycle between 30 to 40 percent of the plastic it produces.
How does this recycling rate compare to the United States and developing countries?
-The recycling rate in the United States is around 9 percent, and it is even lower in developing countries.
What is the expected increase in plastic production in the next 20 years?
-It is expected that plastic production will double in the next 20 years compared to today's production.
What is the first step in the plastic recycling process?
-The first step in the plastic recycling process is the collection and sorting of plastic waste, which is essential for efficient recycling.
Why is it important to separate waste before recycling?
-Separating waste is crucial because it is the only way to recycle them effectively. Mixing different types of waste can lead to them ending up in incinerators and not being recycled.
How does the size-based sorting of plastic waste work in recycling plants?
-Plastic waste is sorted by size using a rotating filter system, similar to a salad spinner, where smaller fragments pass through holes in the filter while larger ones are directed to other filters with different mesh sizes.
What technology is used to distinguish and separate different types of plastic?
-Infrared scanners are used to identify different types of plastic, such as PET and HDPE, and separate them using compressed air jets.
Why is it not necessary to clean plastic containers completely before recycling?
-It is not necessary to clean plastic containers thoroughly before recycling because modern recycling plants are capable of handling the presence of residues, and excessive cleaning can lead to water wastage.
What happens to the plastic waste after it is sorted by type and cleaned?
-After sorting and cleaning, the plastic waste is shredded into flakes, then heated, cooled, and cut into small pieces to form pellets, which can be used to produce new plastic products.
What are some of the uses for recycled plastic?
-Recycled plastic can be used to make a variety of products, including shoes, blankets, components of scooters, utensils, eyeglass frames, and more.
Why was plastic recycling initially introduced, and when was the first recycling center established?
-Plastic recycling was initially introduced for environmental reasons, not due to a lack of resources. The first recycling center was established in Pennsylvania in 1972.
What happens to plastic that cannot be recycled, such as multi-material or composite plastics?
-Plastic that cannot be recycled, like multi-material plastics or those labeled with the number 7, are often sent to incinerators or thermovalorization plants where they are burned to generate electricity or used as an alternative fuel in cement kilns or steel mills.
What are the environmental concerns associated with burning plastic?
-Burning plastic can release harmful substances such as heavy metals, dioxins, and greenhouse gases. However, modern plants use advanced pollution control technologies to mitigate these emissions.
From an energy perspective, is it better to recycle plastic or to burn it?
-From an energy perspective, it is better to recycle plastic because the energy gained from burning plastic is less than the energy spent to produce new plastic.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Plastic Recycling in Europe: Myths and Facts

This paragraph discusses the common myth that recycling plastic is futile due to the belief that it only results in water wastage. It clarifies that in Europe, 30-40% of plastic is recycled, which is significantly higher compared to the USA's 9% and even lower rates in developing countries. The paragraph introduces the concept of improving the global recycling process, especially with the projected doubling of plastic production in the next 20 years. It also introduces a new series called 'Waste' where the journey of waste post-disposal is explored. The first step in plastic recycling is waste sorting, emphasizing the importance of proper waste segregation to ensure efficient recycling. The myth that waste segregation is pointless because everything gets mixed up later is debunked, highlighting that proper waste separation is crucial for successful recycling. The paragraph concludes by explaining that mixing different types of waste can lead to them ending up in incinerators, thus failing the recycling cycle.

05:00

🔄 The Recycling Process of Plastics: From Waste to New Products

This paragraph delves into the recycling process of plastics, explaining the various steps involved and why not all plastics can be recycled. It begins with the collection of plastics, which are then sent to recycling plants. The first step in the plant involves size-based sorting using a rotating mechanism to separate plastic fragments through filters of different sizes. An infrared scanner is then used to identify and separate different types of plastics, such as PET and HDPE, using compressed air jets. Any remaining foreign materials are manually removed by operators before the plastics are sent to incinerators. The paragraph then describes the shredding phase, where selected plastics are cleaned and shredded into flakes, which are then sorted by color and processed into pellets that can be used to produce new plastic products. The paragraph also addresses the environmental reasons behind the inception of plastic recycling, contrasting it with the recycling of materials like aluminum and glass, which were driven by resource scarcity. It mentions the first recycling center built in Pennsylvania in 1972 and the evolution of recycling from industrial waste to post-consumer products like packaging. The paragraph concludes with a discussion on the energy value of plastics, comparing it to coal, and the environmental impact of burning plastics for energy, including the emissions and the use of modern purification technologies in incineration plants.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Recycling

Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects. In the context of the video, recycling is highlighted as a crucial method for managing plastic waste. The video discusses how only a portion of the plastic produced is recycled, with the rest often ending up in incinerators or landfills. Recycling is portrayed as a process that can be improved upon to reduce environmental impact, especially considering the projected increase in plastic production.

💡Plastic

Plastic is a versatile material made from polymers, often derived from petroleum. It is central to the video's discussion as it is the primary waste material being addressed. The video mentions the varying rates of plastic recycling in different regions, such as Europe and the USA, and the challenges in recycling different types of plastics due to their composition and additives.

💡Waste Management

Waste management refers to the collection, transportation, disposal, or recycling of waste materials. The video script touches on waste management practices, emphasizing the importance of proper waste segregation to facilitate recycling. It critiques the common misconception that waste sorting is futile, arguing that it is essential for efficient recycling processes.

💡Landfill

A landfill is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial. The video discusses landfills as one of the destinations for plastic waste that is not recycled, highlighting the environmental concerns associated with landfilling, such as the potential for pollution and the long-term persistence of plastic in the environment.

💡Incineration

Incineration is the process of burning waste materials to reduce their volume and dispose of them. The video mentions incineration as an alternative to recycling, where plastic waste is burned to generate energy. However, it also points out the environmental concerns, such as the release of harmful substances and the energy inefficiency compared to recycling.

💡Recyclability

Recyclability refers to the ability of a material to be recycled. The video delves into the factors that affect the recyclability of plastic, such as the presence of different types of plastics in a single product, which can make them difficult to separate and recycle. It also mentions that not all plastics are equally recyclable, with some types being more challenging to process.

💡Plastic Types

Plastic types refer to the various kinds of plastics, often differentiated by numbers (e.g., PET, HDPE, PVC). The video script discusses how different types of plastics have different recycling processes and challenges. For instance, plastic labeled with number 7, which includes certain food packaging, is mentioned as being less recyclable compared to others.

💡Sorting

Sorting is the process of separating items into different categories for recycling or disposal. The video emphasizes the importance of sorting in the recycling process, explaining that effective sorting by size and type of material is necessary for successful recycling. It also dispels the myth that sorting is pointless if waste is later mixed together.

💡Waste-to-Energy

Waste-to-energy is the process of generating energy in the form of electricity or heat from the primary treatment of waste. The video discusses incineration and thermovalorization as waste-to-energy methods, where waste is burned to produce energy. It contrasts this with recycling, suggesting that while energy can be gained from burning plastic, it is less efficient than recycling in terms of energy use.

💡Pellets

Pellets, in the context of recycling, refer to small, uniform pieces of plastic that are the result of the recycling process. The video describes how recycled plastic is transformed into pellets, which can then be used to produce new plastic products. This step is part of the process that turns waste plastic into a reusable material.

💡Thermovalorization

Thermovalorization is the process of recovering energy from waste by burning it. The video mentions thermovalorization as a method for dealing with non-recyclable waste, such as certain types of plastics. It is presented as an alternative to landfilling and incineration, with the aim of generating energy from waste in a controlled manner.

Highlights

In Europe, we can recycle between 30 to 40 percent of the plastic we produce, while the rest ends up in incinerators or landfills.

In the USA, the recycling rate is around 9 percent, and it's even lower in developing countries.

Globally, recycling can be improved, especially considering that plastic production is expected to double in the next 20 years.

The first step in recycling plastic is proper waste sorting and collection.

Mismanagement of waste sorting can lead to recyclable materials ending up in incinerators.

Plastic is sent to recycling plants where it is first sorted by size using a rotating filter.

Infrared scanners are used to identify different types of plastics and separate them using compressed air jets.

Operators manually check for any remaining foreign materials that will be sent to incinerators.

Selected waste is compacted into large blocks and sent to transformation plants to be turned into new raw material.

Plastic is further sorted by type and cleaned of any residues such as labels or food particles.

Plastic flakes are sorted by color, which is crucial for the quality of the recycled material.

The flakes are then heated, cooled, and cut into small pieces to form pellets, ready for new plastic production.

Recycled plastic can be used to make a variety of products, from shoes and blankets to scooter parts and glasses.

The first recycling center was built in Pennsylvania in 1972 to repurpose industrial waste.

Not all plastics can be recycled; some are sent to incinerators or thermovalorization plants to generate energy.

Modern incineration plants use advanced pollution control technologies to minimize environmental impact.

Burning plastic releases harmful substances, but it also has a higher energy value than coal.

Recycling plastic is more energy-efficient than burning it for energy, as the energy gained is less than what's spent to produce new plastic.