New Catalyst Could Make Mixed Plastic Waste Recyclable in One Chemical Step

New catalyst could make mixed plastic waste recyclable in one chemical step

Ever wondered where your plastics end up? A PET bottle can be washed, shredded, melted and given a second life. But most everyday items—toys, mattresses, car seats—are made from different plastics that refuse to mix when melted, producing unusable, contaminated material. Sorting is difficult and expensive, so most mixed plastic waste ends up burned or buried, and the materials are lost for good.

New Catalyst Transforms Recycling of Mixed Plastics

A groundbreaking catalyst developed in Japan promises to revolutionize plastic recycling by selectively degrading polyurethane (PU) in mixed plastic waste without harming valuable polyester and nylon components. This new chemical strategy introduces a practical solution to the persistent problem of recycling complex multi-material plastics long considered too challenging to separate and reuse. Polyurethane, the sixth most commonly used polymer g…