Plastic Recycling: From History to Future Outlook

Today, the majority of consumers recognize the importance of plastic recycling.

While Craftech’s high‑standard plastic fasteners represent a minuscule share of global plastic production, everyday items—household appliances, bags, and packaging—account for the bulk. Recycling remains the most effective way to convert discarded plastics into valuable new products. In the United States, both consumers and manufacturers drive this process.

How much plastic is recycled?

Despite incremental gains since 1990, recycling rates remain low. For example, in 2012, 32 million tons of plastic waste were produced, yet only 9% was recycled—well below the 80% rate for newspaper and 70% for corrugated fiberboard.

Current State of Plastic Recycling

Although the United States possesses a robust recycling infrastructure capable of supporting growth, the industry still struggles to generate demand for recycled plastic. Economic viability remains a key barrier; if recycled material lacks market value, it sees little use. For more than a decade, a large portion of U.S. recyclables was shipped to China. However, contamination—food residue or mixed materials—rendered many shipments unusable, sending them to Chinese landfills. In 2012, China enacted the “Green Fence” policy, banning contaminated imports and forcing exporters to clean and sort more rigorously. This shift not only created costs for American exporters but also encouraged domestic recyclers to improve quality and compete.

Applications for Recycled Plastics

All plastic products are identified with a plastic identification code. Each of these codes represents a different type of plastic, simplifying sorting for consumers and industry alike. The codes are:

1) PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)

2) HDPE (High‑density polyethylene)

3) Vinyl (Polyvinyl chloride)

4) LDPE (Low‑density polyethylene)

5) PP (Polypropylene)

6) PS (Polystyrene)

7) Other (Mixed plastics)

Since China enacted its Green Fence policy, plastic waste from codes #3‑7 is largely directed to landfills. PET—commonly used in beverage bottles—is now widely recycled into fibers for carpets, textiles, and clothing. HDPE can be remanufactured into landscape and gardening products such as lawn chairs and fencing.

Advantages of Plastic Recycling

Recycling reduces landfill burdens and cuts oil consumption, as well as emissions of sulfur hexafluoride, chlorine dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide. It also delivers cost savings, since recycled resin is typically cheaper than virgin material.

The world of plastic recycling is still very much in flux. Industry experts agree that a comprehensive, economically viable recycling system will take time to develop, but continued collaboration between China and the U.S. could accelerate progress.

Interested in learning more about high‑performance plastics? Check out our free Material Guide!