(380b) Considering a safe operating space for plastics production via chemical recycling

Only 9% of plastics in the United States are recycled. There is a critical need to reduce plastic production and increase plastic recycling. Mechanical recycling makes up the bulk of recycling processes, however, it is limited in the plastic types and feedstocks it can process. Chemical recycling of plastics aims to reduce barriers with plastic recycling, converting bulk polymer into a monomer mixture that can be converted to fuels and commodity chemicals. Many questions revolve around chemical recycling and its feasibility at a large scale, with many concerns being raised about environmental pollution from chemical recycling plants. This presentation will dive into the current state of chemical recycling technologies, policies surrounding chemical recycling, and the potential outlook and drawbacks of chemical recycling. We will focus on the gaps in chemical recycling research, and what should be studied by chemical engineers to push forward this important strategy to improve plastics recycling. Additionally, we will tie in how policy and researchers should work together to create incentives to improve plastics recycling and minimize unnecessary plastic production.