Chemical recycling options for ocean-bound plastic
Plastic collected from rivers can be challenging to recycle due to contamination, environmental degradation and mixed material types. So what options exist when conventional mechanical recycling is not suitable?
This report explores the potential of chemical and solvent-based recycling for ocean-bound plastic collected through the COP project in Aarhus and Gdańsk. Through laboratory testing and up-scaled trials, the study investigates different recycling pathways for common plastic types, including PP, PE, PET, PC and PS. The results demonstrate how different fractions can potentially be recovered as recycled polymers, valuable chemical building blocks or hydrocarbon-based feedstocks rather than being discarded.
The report highlights that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for recycling ocean-bound plastic. Instead, effective recycling requires a combination of sorting, cleaning, material identification and recycling technologies adapted to the condition and composition of each plastic fraction.
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