Often, we throw things into the recycling bin assuming that they will be recycled because the label says its recyclable. In our catastrophic recycling systems at the moment that definitely isn’t always the case but even if they work perfectly, there are caveats. There are two major types of plastics: thermoset and thermoplastics.
Thermoplastics are plastics that can be remelted and remolded into new products, and therefore, recycled. However, thermoset plastics “contain polymers that cross-link to form an irreversible chemical bond”. That means no matter how much heat you apply, they cannot be remelted into new material and are therefore non-recyclable.
Most plastics that are recyclable can only be recycled once, at which point they are can be converted into clothing or another product which can’t be recycled again. This means that once the second item reaches end of life, so too does the original plastic – and usually, it then ends up in landfill. Unlike plastic, glass and metal (including aluminum) can be recycled infinitely without losing quality or purity.
