Capturing Value Through Basic Mechanical Recycling of Mixed Plastic Waste
This playbook addresses how basic mechanical recycling can improve mixed plastic waste recycling rates via affordable and simple technologies, and deliver greater economic opportunities through the creation of marketable products.
How do we lower the cost of recycling mixed plastic waste and extract greater economic value from them?
In this playbook, we address how basic mechanical recycling can capture value from mixed plastic waste, which are difficult to recycle economically. This is achieved using affordable and simple technologies that convert waste into marketable products, such as low-cost furniture, basic construction materials, and eco-aggregate materials.
Basic mechanical recycling is a more effective approach to addressing the plastic waste crisis, ensuring a consistent supply of recycling feedstock. This also creates greater economic opportunities, particularly in countries with early-stage waste management systems (i.e. countries in categories 1 – 3 of the Plastic Waste Management Framework). The playbook offers key insights into how informal waste pickers, entrepreneurs in the recycling industry, and other organisations can adopt, scale, and replicate these solutions to promote the growth of a circular economy.
How do we lower the cost of recycling mixed plastic waste and extract greater economic value from them?
In this playbook, we address how basic mechanical recycling can capture value from mixed plastic waste, which are difficult to recycle economically. This is achieved using affordable and simple technologies that convert waste into marketable products, such as low-cost furniture, basic construction materials, and eco-aggregate materials.
Basic mechanical recycling is a more effective approach to addressing the plastic waste crisis, ensuring a consistent supply of recycling feedstock. This also creates greater economic opportunities, particularly in countries with early-stage waste management systems (i.e. countries in categories 1 – 3 of the Plastic Waste Management Framework). The playbook offers key insights into how informal waste pickers, entrepreneurs in the recycling industry, and other organisations can adopt, scale, and replicate these solutions to promote the growth of a circular economy.
Key takeaways
Low Capital Investment
Basic mechanical recycling technologies require minimal initial investment, making them viable for low-income regions and small businesses.
Product Development
The recycling process converts plastic waste into products with market value, such as low-cost furniture and basic construction materials.
Job Creation and Economic Growth
By establishing local recycling operations, these solutions create jobs and stimulate local economies, particularly in areas with limited access to more advanced recycling technologies.
Partnership and Engagement
Stakeholders in the waste management ecosystem must align and collaborate to build operational effectiveness, and scale up infrastructure and feed supply. It is also vital to educate communities, especially the young, about proper plastic waste segregation and recycling approaches.
Environmental Impact
The playbook outlines how these simple solutions can help divert plastic waste from landfills and oceans, supporting global efforts to reduce plastic pollution and promote a circular economy for plastic.
Next suggested Solution Model playbook
Capturing Value Through Basic Mechanical Recycling of Mixed Plastic Waste
This playbook addresses how basic mechanical recycling can improve mixed plastic waste recycling rates via affordable and simple technologies, and deliver greater economic opportunities through the creation of marketable products.
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