Polymer Recycling: An Overview

Abstract

As the twentieth century nears its end, a perceived problem facing industrialized societies is the disposal of our solid wastes (1). Thus, the U.S. generates (2) 207 million tons of municipal solid waste each year. The great majority of this waste is destined for landfills (Figure 1), with significant but much smaller amounts incinerated or recycled. 1 Disposal of municipal solid waste in USA, 1993. In 1993 municipal solid waste had the composition given in Figure 2. An examination of these data finds a major fraction (paper, plastics, rubber/leather) of our solid wastes to be derived from polymeric materials of known composition. Thus, the solution of our solid waste disposal problem is intimately related to the recycle of polymers. All commercial polymers -- paper, plastics, rubber -- are subject to recycling. 2 Composition of municipal solid waste in USA, 1993. Some cardinal benefits of polymer recycling are a reduction of waste generation, less need for landfills, and a reduction in consumption of resources. Past benefits of polymer recycling