Innovative advanced recycling can reduce plastic waste in Texas

Oil and gas are helping to lead the way with an exciting new advanced recycling development that will take effect by year-end 2022. We’re breaking down the details and why you should care.

What you need to know

ExxonMobil recently announced plans to build its first, large-scale plastic waste advanced recycling facility in Baytown, Texas—which will be one of the largest in North America and have the capacity to recycle more than 60 million pounds of plastic waste per year.

Why is it important

To help reduce the impact of plastic waste on the environment, society will need to recycle a greater share of the products that it uses instead of permanently discarding them.

Advanced recycling could create a circular economy – where more types and qualities of plastics can be transformed into a broader range of valuable products. And unlike mechanical recycling, there are no evident technical limitations regarding how many times a plastic product can be put through advanced recycling processes.

How does it work?

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so check this out:

What strategies must be implemented to move the United States toward a sustainable, circular economy where plastics can be reused again and again?

For starters, America’s Plastic Makers have announced “5 Actions for Sustainable Change” – a national strategy supported by the plastics industry to move the United States toward a sustainable, circular economy where plastics can be reused again and again. The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, and its 80+ member companies, are working with policy makers, non-governmental organizations and local communities to address plastic waste across the globe. There are a number of policies that, if prioritized, could help these U.S.-based companies reach these goals. Read more here.