2016Yearbook_Flipbook

2016

THE I SR I SCRAP YEARBOOK

Plastics

The manufacture and distribution of plastics is everywhere. Between 2004 and 2014, the global production of plastics grew from 225 million tons to 311 million tons. With the explosive growth in the manufacture of plastics comes

been separated or diverted from the solid waste stream for the purpose of recycling. Similar to prime or prompt scrap in the metals industry, post-industrial plastic scrap is generated by the plastic manufacturing process prior to consumption by end-users and is a highly valued raw material input for producing new plastic products. Recycling of engineered and industrial plastics present tremendous opportunities that demonstrate plastics recycling today is “Bigger Than the Bin.” From an environmental perspective, recycled plastic can provide enormous benefits over the use of its virgin counterparts. For example, plastic lumber made with scrap plastic bags, and other materials, conserves trees and eliminates the need to use hazardous chemicals to treat wood that will be used outdoors. According to the U.S. EPA, plastic recycling results in significant energy savings (an estimated 50–75 MBtus/ton of material recycled) compared with production of new plastics using virgin material.

the need to ensure that these materials are recycled in an environmentally responsible manner

once they reach the end of their useful lives. PlasticsEurope reports that 7.7 million tons of plastics were recycled globally in 2013, including more than 3.5 million tons of post- industrial and post-consumer plastic scrap that were recycled in the U.S., according to ISRI estimates. Post-consumer plastic scrap commodities including plastic bags, bottles, tubs and other products are generated by businesses and consumers, have served their intended end use and have

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INSTITUTE OF SCRAP RECYCLING INDUSTRIES, INC.