Prioritise mechanical recycling over chemical, says BIR

Mechanical recycling must be the preferred method for recycling plastics on a large scale, the Bureau of International Recycling has asserted. It is also calling for ‘robust’ methods for calculating the climate impact of chemical recycling.

In a newly published position paper, the global federation of recycling industries says chemical recycling should be used only for hard-to-recycle plastics.

‘Chemical recycling needs careful consideration and well-informed, market-based policies to ensure that it complements rather than competes with traditional recycling methods,’ argues BIR. Describing chemical recycling as ‘a nascent technology’, the paper urges caution in its deployment and calls for the introduction of a harmoniseddefinition excludes fuel production.

Energy intensive

BIR points out that chemical recycling processes are energy intensive. The technology should be used only for materials that mechanical recycling cannot efficiently or economically process, the paper says.

Critics of chemical recycling want a greater imperative on manufacturers and brands to design their products for recycling. BIR says that policies should focus on eliminating the production of hard-to-recycle plastics and on incentivising the design of plastics for reuse or mechanical recycling.

Robust methodology

Additionally, it insists, chemical recyclers should refrain from using mass balance accounting principles to fulfil recycled content objectives.

‘A robust method for calculating the climate impacts of chemical recycling must be developed,’ says BIR dg Arnaud Brunet. ‘This should cover all emissions from the process, as well as overall energy usage and incineration of recovered hazardous waste. Furthermore, incentivising the lower-carbon option of mechanical recycling would enable it to compete with lower-priced primary plastics and make the process more attractive for investment.’

BIR president Susie Burrage acknowledged an ‘excellent collaboration’ with national associations in preparing the position paper.

BIR’s position papers can be found here