The cost of recycling 1 ton of plastic often scales up to $2,500 to $3,500. This cost can fluctuate based on the type of plastic, recycling technology used, local labor costs, local waste disposal fees, and market demand for recycled plastic. Transportation expenses significantly impact costs. Recycling aluminum, paper, and cardboard has substantial environmental benefits compared to materials like plastic, glass, and rubber.
A small-scale distributed plastic recycling system faced a net financial loss due to high operation costs, like labor. An economic model showed increasing public participation and source separation could increase revenue for plastic waste management. The value of some plastics may lead councils to lose money when collecting them for recycling. We can reduce energy usage by 66% when using recycled plastic to make products. However, the economics of plastic waste and recycling are complex.
Is recyclable plastic expensive? The cost of recycling 1 ton of plastic often scales up to $2,500 to $3,500. This cost varies based on plastic type, recycling efficiency, and recycled plastic demand. Transportation significantly impacts costs. An economic model showed small-scale plastic recycling faced financial loss from high operation costs like labor. Councils lose money collecting some plastics for recycling. Recycling plastic saves energy and landfill space versus disposal. But economics of plastic waste and recycling are complex.
Whether recyclable packaging costs more depends on material. Paper bags cost 4 cents to produce unlike most plastic bags costing 1 cent. Paper is recyclable curbside unlike most plastic bags. Some plastic boxes cost more than cardboard since they use thicker plastic. Cardboard boxes are often recyclable unlike some plastic boxes. Recycled PET costs more than virgin PET. Collecting, sorting, transporting, and reprocessing plastic waste is expensive.
Recycling generates non-recyclable waste too, including contamination and unusable plastic. Disposing these residues averages $75 per ton but varies based on landfill fees. Assuming done properly, recycling can cost $50-$150 per ton, competitive with $70-$200 per ton for trash disposal. Rising plastic prices forced companies using virgin plastic resin to make more lightweight bottles with more recycled resin. Recycling reduces plastic’s ecological impact but remains more complicated and less effective than other recycling.