Recycling's next big thing — or big bluff?

A new technology promises to recycle previously unrecyclable plastics, but faces intense scrutiny over its environmental and economic viability. | Contesto: cronaca

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• Recycling's next big thing — or big bluff?

Contesto

The global plastics crisis has found a potential new challenger in a suite of technologies collectively termed "advanced recycling." Proponents of these chemical and thermal processes argue they hold the key to tackling the millions of tons of hard-to-recycle plastics—like multi-layer food packaging, films, and contaminated materials—that currently clog landfills, incinerators, and natural environments. Unlike traditional mechanical recycling, which melts and reforms plastics of a single type, advanced methods break polymers down to their molecular building blocks or convert them into fuels or feedstocks for new plastics. Major chemical and waste management companies are investing billions, positioning these systems as a critical component of a circular economy for plastics and a necessary step toward corporate and national sustainability targets. However, this emerging industry is facing a wave of skepticism from environmental scientists, watchdog groups, and some policymakers. Critics contend that the term "advanced recycling" is often a misleading euphemism for what is, in many cases, a form of plastic-to-fuel conversion—effectively a high-tech incineration process that releases greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants. They argue the technology's energy intensity and carbon footprint may negate any environmental benefits, while creating a market incentive to perpetuate plastic production. "It's not recycling in the public's understanding of the word," said one analyst from a prominent environmental research group, who noted that much of the output is burned rather than turned back into new plastic products. The economic model is also unproven at scale, often requiring substantial public subsidies to compete with virgin plastic production, which remains cheap due to low oil and gas prices. The debate centers on a fundamental question of waste hierarchy: whether society should prioritize reducing plastic use and designing simpler, truly recyclable materials, or invest in complex end-of-pipe technological fixes. Environmental advocates warn that championing advanced recycling could undermine more effective solutions by offering a "license to pollute" and creating...

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Categoria: cronaca