Introduction
Plastic waste is one of the most visible environmental challenges of our time—but it is also a valuable resource when managed correctly considering its collection, sorting, processing to be transformed into new raw materials.
In this lesson learners will discover different ways to recycle them (mechanical recycling but also up and down -cycling) and understand the importance of transforming plastic waste into valuable resources. The possibility to be transformed in Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) and its following use will be considered too. In this way also their environmental impact will be reduced thanks to the possibility to give them a second life supporting the sustainability and circular economy.
The students will also understand how discarded plastics turn into useful materials, products, and energy. Thus, they could consider and see it not like a problem but more as a resource with potential to build a more sustainable future.
Lesson Learning Outcomes
After completion of this lesson, learners will be able to:
Understand how plastic waste is sorted and processed in recycling facilities
- Describe the key steps in the plastic recycling process: collection, sorting, cleaning, shredding, and remanufacturing.
- Distinguish between what plastic downcycling is and how it differs from recycling (or closed-loop recycling) and upcycling.
Understand the use of second raw material (SRM) including solid recovery fuel (SRF)
- Distinguish between SRM from upcycling that became higher-value products (e.g., building materials, designer goods, or advanced fuels) and SRM from downcycling that became less-value products (e.g., turning PET bottles into fibers for clothing or carpets) and SRF
- Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different way to transform plastic waste into resource and to decrease the environmental plastic pollution.
Understand the role of re-, up- and down- cycling and Circular Economy
- Discuss the challenges and trade-offs including material contamination, cost, and scalability from SRM sustainability market and achievements of the circular economy goals
- Evaluate how product design, material choice, and consumer behavior influence the potential for downcycling, upcycling or recycling and the reuse in a creative way In agreement with the circular economy perspective.
