Recycling is one answer to the growth in plastic waste but treating 鈥渨ash water鈥� used to clean recycled plastic before re-use can produce safer recycled plastics, according to a new study. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a goal to achieve a plastic recycling rate of up to 50% by 2030 which would involve an 8- to 10-fold increase in recycling efforts to meet the challenge.
Plastic packaging waste streams generally contain different polymers and impurities including paper, organic residues, adhesives, metals, glass and inks. The contaminants and the additives present in these polymers include plasticizers, antioxidants, colorants, light and heat stabilizers, lubricants, antistatic agents, slip compounds, heavy metals and other chemicals.
A new study by Iowa State University researchers examines various techniques for washing post-consumer plastics before they are re-used and identifies potential chemicals of concern. The research was supported by IAFNS鈥� Food Packaging Safety & Sustainability Committee. The study focuses on contaminants in post-consumer polypropylene wash water with the aim of making recycling processes more effective, sustainable and safer by lowering potential exposure to harmful chemicals. Polypropylene is a versatile plastic that is used for a wide range of applications including food packaging and consumer products.