Burn ‘Em All Or Sort ‘Em Burn ‘Em All Or Sort ‘Em Out:Out:

Recycle vs. IncinerationRecycle vs. Incineration

Heidi Beutel Tarsha Brown

Reginald JacquesHoward West

Deborah Wierzchowski

April 11, 2000

Objective Objective

To determine if it is better to To determine if it is better to Recycle or Incinerate plastics Recycle or Incinerate plastics made from synthetic polymersmade from synthetic polymers– StatisticsStatistics– advantagesadvantages– disadvantagesdisadvantages– impact on environmentimpact on environment– which is more economicalwhich is more economical

Why Recycle or IncinerateWhy Recycle or Incinerate

Question arises about what to do Question arises about what to do with plastic or post-consumer wastewith plastic or post-consumer waste

Waste accumulation has been a Waste accumulation has been a problem throughout history problem throughout history

Growth in technology requires new Growth in technology requires new materials materials

Most consumer waste end up in Most consumer waste end up in landfilllandfill

Definition of plasticDefinition of plastic

The term plastic is used to The term plastic is used to describe commercial materials describe commercial materials made from synthetic polymersmade from synthetic polymers““poly” (many) and “mers” (parts)poly” (many) and “mers” (parts) not all polymers are plasticsnot all polymers are plastics

Two types of polymersTwo types of polymers

Thermoplastic polymersThermoplastic polymersLinearly structured with slight branching Linearly structured with slight branching

from the base unitsfrom the base unitsFormed upon heatingFormed upon heating

Thermoset polymersThermoset polymersFormed with irreversible cross-linkages of Formed with irreversible cross-linkages of

covalent bonds during polymerization, or covalent bonds during polymerization, or post-polymerization treatmentspost-polymerization treatments

Cannot be heat softened Cannot be heat softened

Thermoplastic and Thermoplastic and Thermoset Wastes Per Thermoset Wastes Per

Sector Sector

Seven different types of Seven different types of plastic resinsplastic resins

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE)Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE) the most commonly used for soft drink the most commonly used for soft drink

bottles, waste containers, vegetable oil bottles, waste containers, vegetable oil bottlesbottles

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) also very common for film containers, also very common for film containers,

vitamin bottles, milk jugs and butter vitamin bottles, milk jugs and butter tubstubs

ContinuedContinued

Vinyl/Polyvinyl Chloride (V/PVC) Vinyl/Polyvinyl Chloride (V/PVC) used in the manufacture of food wraps, used in the manufacture of food wraps,

vegetable oil bottles, blister packages, vegetable oil bottles, blister packages, clear health and beauty bottlesclear health and beauty bottles

Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)used to make caps, netting, shrink used to make caps, netting, shrink

wraps, garment bags and plastic bagswraps, garment bags and plastic bags

ContinuedContinued

Polypropylene (PP)Polypropylene (PP) used to make butter tubs, yogurts used to make butter tubs, yogurts

containers, bottle tops, carpets and containers, bottle tops, carpets and food wrapsfood wraps

Polystyrene (PS)Polystyrene (PS) includes disposable cutleryincludes disposable cutlery

Other includes either layered, Other includes either layered, mixed plastics or thermosets.mixed plastics or thermosets.

Defining the numbersDefining the numbers Numbers represent the ease of Numbers represent the ease of

difficulty for each plastic to be recycleddifficulty for each plastic to be recycled

Scientist are working towards finding a Scientist are working towards finding a way to recycle the higher numberway to recycle the higher numberOnly 50% of plastics get recycledOnly 50% of plastics get recycledOnset of debate over recycle vs. Onset of debate over recycle vs.

incinerationincineration

RecyclingRecycling

Prior to 1989 plastic recycling Prior to 1989 plastic recycling limited to soft drink bottleslimited to soft drink bottles

Today plastic recycling has grown Today plastic recycling has grown into a national network with curbside into a national network with curbside and drop-off collection programsand drop-off collection programs

Recycling and product Recycling and product manufacturers have high demand manufacturers have high demand for greater post-consumer resinsfor greater post-consumer resins

Growth in post-consumer Growth in post-consumer plastic bottlesplastic bottles

Growth in plastic bottles Growth in plastic bottles recyclingrecycling

Plastic bottle recycling increased Plastic bottle recycling increased six-fold since 1990six-fold since 1990manufacturers and consumers value manufacturers and consumers value

plastics for their low cost, versatility plastics for their low cost, versatility and performance benefitsand performance benefits

consumer demand safety and consumer demand safety and convenienceconvenience

prefer to buy products in plastic bottlesprefer to buy products in plastic bottleslight weight and shatter resistantlight weight and shatter resistant

Comparing recycling rate of Comparing recycling rate of plastic bottles between 1997-plastic bottles between 1997-

19981998

The Recycling processThe Recycling process

Sort and clean different plastic Sort and clean different plastic groupsgroups

Melt plastic into balesMelt plastic into bales Break bales up and grind into small Break bales up and grind into small

flakesflakes Wash, rinse and dry flakes in hot airWash, rinse and dry flakes in hot air Color/pigment may be added or Color/pigment may be added or

maybe run through a pelletizermaybe run through a pelletizer

Other Forms of RecyclingOther Forms of Recycling

PE PE bean bag toys, lumber bean bag toys, lumber tires tires jogging track, roads, jogging track, roads,

mousepadsmousepads PETE PETE jackets, sleeping bag jackets, sleeping bag

filling, filling, carpet, audio/video tapescarpet, audio/video tapes

IncinerationIncineration Plastics with plasticizers and resins Plastics with plasticizers and resins

can not be efficiently or can not be efficiently or economically recycledeconomically recycledcost and energy required to produce cost and energy required to produce

bottles can never be recoveredbottles can never be recoveredIncineration plants are constructed Incineration plants are constructed

with energy recovery in mindwith energy recovery in mind

Incineration ProcessIncineration Process

Waste is fed into combustion Waste is fed into combustion chamberchamber

Waste is incineratedWaste is incinerated Gases rise into a furnace sectionGases rise into a furnace section Heat from furnace is transferred to Heat from furnace is transferred to

water pipes water pipes Heated water is sent through steam Heated water is sent through steam

producing system producing system

Advantages of IncinerationAdvantages of Incineration

Waste ReductionWaste Reduction plastics completely discardedplastics completely discarded

Resource ConservationResource Conservation Energy produced used for energy Energy produced used for energy

needsneeds

Advantages of Recycling Advantages of Recycling

Waste ReductionWaste Reduction reuse of plastic wastereuse of plastic waste

Resource ConservationResource Conservation use of raw materials reduceduse of raw materials reduced

ConclusionsConclusions

RecyclingRecyclingsave moneysave moneyuse less raw materialsuse less raw materialsno environmental emissions no environmental emissions

compared to incinerationcompared to incinerationincineration - ash wasteincineration - ash wastelandfills - 10-30 years to decomposelandfills - 10-30 years to decompose

Questions?Questions?