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Exploring the potential of chemical recycling using a distributed model in the UK – A life cycle assessment perspective
Summary
Researchers conducted a life cycle assessment of small-scale, decentralized pyrolysis plants converting mixed plastic waste into naphtha in the UK, finding that chemical recycling reduces climate change impacts by up to 2,977 kg CO2-equivalent per tonne compared to virgin plastic production. While promising as a complement to mechanical recycling for complex waste streams, the study notes ongoing challenges with by-product environmental impacts and the need for policy support.
The study investigates the potential of chemical recycling of plastic waste in the UK, specifically through a small-scale, decentralised pyrolysis process that incorporates in-situ upgrading. With rising plastic production and limited capacity for mechanical recycling, chemical recycling (CR) emerges as a complementary solution for handling complex waste streams, such as multi-layered or contaminated plastics. The research focuses on the life cycle assessment (LCA) of a 165 kg/hr plant designed to convert mixed plastic waste (MPW) into naphtha, which can be used as a substitute of virgin petroleum feedstock in the production of plastic films. The LCA evaluates both waste and product perspectives, comparing chemical recycling with conventional waste management methods, including incineration with energy recovery (waste-to-energy) and a mixed end-of-life scenario (waste perspective) and with virgin plastic film (product perspective). Results show that chemical recycling significantly reduces climate change impacts-by 1284 kg CO2-eq./tonne compared to waste-to-energy and by 430 kg CO2-eq./tonne against the mixed end-of-life option. From the product perspective, chemically recycled naphtha results in up to 2977 kg CO2-eq./tonne or 636 kg CO2-eq./tonne lower impacts compared to virgin plastic production. The study highlights the use of small-scale, decentralised CR plants, however, challenges remain, such as the environmental impacts of by-products. The research concludes that chemical recycling offers a viable pathway to greenhouse gas emissions reductions compared to conventional waste management and virgin plastic production, albeit with interlinked trade-offs observable in other impact categories, highlighting that further optimisation and policy support are essential.