{"id":3340,"date":"2025-05-23T11:22:04","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T11:22:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reverterindustries.com\/solo-se-recicla-el-9-del-plastico\/"},"modified":"2025-05-23T11:26:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-23T11:26:08","slug":"why-only-9-of-plastic-is-recycled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reverterindustries.com\/en\/recycling-plant-en\/why-only-9-of-plastic-is-recycled\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is Only 9% of Plastic Recycled, and What Can We Do to Change It?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Despite decades of awareness campaigns, only 9% of the plastic produced in the world is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, is incinerated or, even worse, ends up polluting our rivers, seas and soils. With more than 430 million tonnes of plastic produced annually, according to UNEP data, the scale of the problem is undeniable.<\/p>\n

In this article we analyse the causes of this low recycling rate, the necessary solutions and the role of plastics recycling machinery and recycling plants as a fundamental part of the transformation towards a real and sustainable circular economy.<\/p>\n

The reasons behind the low recycling rate of plastics<\/h2>\n

1. Poorly recyclable designs<\/h3>\n

Many plastic packaging and products are made from multiple layers or mixtures of materials (such as PET with aluminum or paper), making them difficult to separate and recycle efficiently.<\/p>\n

2. Poor classification at source<\/h3>\n

Proper waste separation in homes, industries and businesses is crucial. However, the lack of environmental education and proper collection systems reduces the quality of plastic waste that reaches recycling plants.<\/p>\n

3. Technological insufficiency<\/h3>\n

Many facilities do not have the right technology to process all types of plastics. This translates into a significant loss of recyclable materials that end up as unrecovered waste.<\/p>\n

4. Lack of economic and regulatory incentives<\/h3>\n

The low price of virgin plastic, compared to recycled plastic, discourages its use. In addition, the lack of regulations that require the incorporation of recycled content in new products slows down the development of the recycling market.<\/p>\n

Keys to increasing the plastic recycling rate<\/h2>\n

Product Redesign<\/h3>\n

Eco-design is essential: products and packaging must be created with reusability and recyclability in mind. This includes the use of pure polymers and the removal of difficult-to-separate mixed materials.<\/p>\n

Selective collection and separation at source<\/h3>\n

Improving the selective collection infrastructure and raising awareness among citizens about their role in the process is vital to raise the quality of the materials that reach the plants.<\/p>\n

Investment in plastics recycling machinery<\/h3>\n

The incorporation of advanced technological equipment makes it possible to increase the recovery rate and purity of recycled plastic. Among the most prominent are:<\/p>\n