Technologies for chemical recycling of household plastics – a technical review and TRL assessment
Open accessAbstract
Chemical recycling is considered an attractive technological pathway for reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as promoting circular economy. In the EU, readiness to develop a full commercial plant is becoming increasingly important given the ambitious goal to recycle all plastics by 2030. Household packaging streams tend to be of lower quality and lower recycling performance compared to industrial and commercial waste streams, thus requiring particular attention. This paper assesses chemical recycling technologies available and identifies the most suitable for recycling of household plastic waste. We identify eight different technologies and compare them in terms of process temperature, sensitivity to feedstock contamination and level of polymer breakdown, three critical factors affecting the cost and attractiveness of a chemical process. In addition, we carry out a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) assessment for eight technologies based on the stage of their present development. The review is based on peer-reviewed scientific papers and information collected from technology developers and providers, as well as interviews with experts. Our analysis outlines advantages and disadvantages of technologies available for chemical plastic recycling and their TRL. The chemical recycling technologies with the highest TRL are pyrolysis, catalytic cracking and conventional gasification. However, the economic feasibility of these technologies is difficult to assess due to the low number of projects in operation and scarcity of data available for comparison. The results of this analysis provide timely information as policy makers and developers set targets for recycling, and contemplate investments on research and chemical plastic recovering plants.
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Plastics usually deteriorate and become unusable after undergoing recycling seven times.
“Solis and Silveira (2020) reported that plastics usually deteriorate and become unusable after undergoing recycling seven times.”
From Packaging design for the circular economy: A systematic review (2022) · cites this paper as Solis and Silveira (2020)
The Introduction says that, in the current system, plastic packaging can be recycled up to seven times before its polymers are too degraded for further use. The claim broadens this to plastics generally and turns an upper limit into what usually happens after seven cycles. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe technology readiness level assessment methodology might be used in the future to evaluate municipal, agricultural, and industrial solid waste reuse technologies as data for economic feasibility analysis.
“The authors concluded that the technology readiness level assessment methodology might be used in the future to evaluate municipal, agricultural, and industrial solid waste reuse technologies as data for economic feasibility analysis.”
From Recycling municipal, agricultural and industrial waste into energy, fertilizers, food and construction materials, and economic feasibility: a review (2023) · cites this paper as Solis and Silveira 2020
Section 2 describes a TRL assessment method, and the Introduction links technical maturity to investment decisions. But the Conclusions say the study assessed household plastic recycling technologies, not that its method should later be applied to municipal, agricultural, and industrial solid waste reuse. The Conclusions also say data are currently too limited for a solid economic feasibility analysis. Page numbers are not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.83)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredNine technologies for the chemical recycling of household plastics were analyzed using a technology readiness assessment methodology, ultimately identifying three technologies based on significant research and development centers to explore economies of scale.
“For instance, Solis and Silveira (2020) have analyzed nine technologies for the chemical recycling of household plastics using a technology readiness assessment methodology, ultimately identifying three technologies based on significant research and development centers to explore economies of scale.”
From Recycling municipal, agricultural and industrial waste into energy, fertilizers, food and construction materials, and economic feasibility: a review (2023) · cites this paper as Solis and Silveira 2020
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- Authors
- Solis, M., & Silveira, S.
- Affiliations
- Profu (Sweden) (SE)
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology (SE)
- Corresponding author
- Solis, Martyna
- Venue
- Waste Management
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-03
- Volume
- 105
- Pages
- 128-138
- ISSN
- 0956-053X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3005879126
- Cited by
- 451
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 52 · 2025: 61 · 2024: 80 · 2023: 84 · 2022: 94 · 2021: 61 · 2020: 19
- FWCI
- 5.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Waste Management (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Polymers and Plastics › Polymer crystallization and properties
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Waste Management and Recycling
- Keywords
- chemical recycling, household plastic waste, plastic packaging, technology readiness level, pyrolysis, catalytic cracking, gasification, polymer breakdown, circular economy, economic feasibility
- MeSH terms
- Plastics, Polymers, Technology, Product Packaging, Recycling
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