How often do we read or hear about plastic floating in the oceans, in Lake Houston, and into the Gulf? For many years we sold our plastic waste to China. That fostered our “out of sight, out of mind” mentality. Then a few years ago China stopped taking plastic. A few cities like Houston contracted with MRF’s (material recycling facilities) to sort plastics by the recycling number shown on most containers. The like plastics were baled and sold to a manufacturer to be made into new items.
This is called mechanical recycling. Nationwide as of a few years ago only about 10%of new plastic articles were being recycled, which is higher in Houston thanks to the FCC Environmental Services Material Recycling Facility (MRF) and citywide curbside recycling. This is because FCC has invested in advanced technology to be able to sort all plastics from #1 to #7, including grocery bags.
Still, there is no requirement for apartments and businesses to recycle. So, tons of plastic go to the landfill every day. If you don’t have curbside recycling or don’t use the weekend recycling at the Metro lot, 100% goes to the landfill.
Recently, several major companies have taken bold actions to find new ways to recycle plastic. They are spending millions of dollars tackling the problem. One such method which ExxonMobil is using is called chemical recycling or advanced recycling. At their Baytown facility they are in the final stages of constructing a plant to take almost all plastics and through a new process, turn them back into the molecules that were used to make the original plastic.
A company called Cyclyx is tasked with obtaining the feedstock for this new plant through a series of corporate, residential and retail takeback programs being rolled out under its 10to90® brand. It is collecting plastics and transporting them to the ExxonMobil facility for processing. The good news is that almost all plastic including those that are not currently being recycled will be added to the mix. The goal is to go from 10% to 90% of plastic being recycled. The material coming out of the facility will be used to make new plastics and other valuable materials.
Beginning on December 10th, you are able to bring all types of plastic, including film plastic, code 6 plastic, Styrofoam, and virtually all other types of plastics to put them in the Plastic Bin. The plastic bins will now say: “Bag it and toss it in” You will still be asked to put all other items, cardboard, paper, metal and glass loose in the bins and not in bags. You are asked to only put non contaminated plastic in the bags that you recycle. A quick rinse is sufficient. Don’t waste more water rinsing than the plastic is worth. Best to put it in the trash!