Entrenched Technologies Research Articles

Technological Options in the Re-use of Polymers: A Technological Forecast Study

Abstract Through the use of a Delphi-round of questions posed to individuals concerned with the problem of resource recovery from polymers, an attempt was made to discern the development of alternative technologies for polymer re-use in the period up to the year 2000. Respondents were asked to consider the balance of opportunities and drawbacks for technologies including landfill, incineration, pyrolysis, recycle, UV and biodegradation. Economic, political, societal, ecological and other driving forces for the development or abandonment of technologies were considered. The study, while very limited in scope, showed a significant swing away from entrenched technologies for polymer disposal, notably landfill, and a corresponding growth in the development of pyrolysis and recycle operations. Strong resistance was detected to polymer collection/separation steps required at the end-user stage, coupled with a broadly expressed willingness to use recycled polymers in end uses including packaging and construction...