Plastic recycling faces systemic hurdles and local solutions

Global plastic recycling faces significant systemic challenges. According to the OECD, only approximately 9% of plastic waste was recycled in 2019, with nearly half of all plastic sent to landfills. The effectiveness of recycling is often hindered by economic competition from cheaper virgin plastics, infrastructure limitations, and the complexity of different plastic polymers and additives.

In response to these challenges, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) Office of Sustainability has launched a program specifically targeting hard-to-recycle plastic film, such as grocery bags and mailers. The initiative aims to divert over 10,000 pounds of plastic from landfills annually. Beyond environmental benefits, the program provides economic advantages to the university by avoiding landfill fees and generating revenue through specialty recyclers.