Separating recyclables from our trash has become commonplace for many of us. What can be recycled and how it is collected, however, varies quite a bit by location. My town, for example, accepts plastics #1 (polyethylene terephthalate; PET), #2 (high-density polyethylene; HDPE) and #5 (polypropylene; PP). Other locations accept plastics #1–7, which includes low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene and others. Some towns collect plastics together with metals and glass, and others do not. This variation in collection protocols in the U.S. can be confusing to consumers and is one of the big hurdles to advancing plastic recycling.
A recent report [1] from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (www.nationalacademies.org) finds that private- and public-sector recycling efforts are not well coordinated and says that “action from the public sector at the federal, state and local levels is needed to improve the plastics waste-management system in the U.S.” The report states that recycled plastics are an underutilized resource, and that only about 10% of plastics waste is recycled in the U.S.
Using recycled plastics
The National Academies report summarizes a study that was sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to look at the potential use of recycled plastics in infrastructure. Potential infrastructure applications include asphalt pavement mixes, drainage pipes, railroad ties, bicycle paths, composite utility poles and highway sound barriers. Of these, only drainage pipes shows significant demand at present, according to the report, and more knowledge about a number of factors, including long-term performance, is needed for further adoption. The four plastics with properties that are most suited for infrastructure applications — PET, HDPE, PP and LDPE — are also in demand for applications such as carpeting, clothing and bottles. The report says that more recycled plastics are needed to meet the demand.
Processing technologies
As the demand for recycled plastics increases, companies are investing in processing technologies and facilities. Nova Chemicals Corp. (www.novachem.com), for example, recently announced that it is developing its first mechanical recycling facility to convert post-consumer plastic films to recycled polyethylene (rPE) at commercial scale as early as 2025. The facility, to be located in Connersville, Ind., is expected to deliver over 100 million lb of rPE by 2026.
Nova has also announced that it, together with Plastic Energy, will study the feasibility of developing a pyrolysis-driven advanced recycling facility for polyethylene in Ontario. If built, the facility is expected to be the largest of its type in Canada. Advanced, or chemical recycling, can produce plastics with the same properties as virgin material.
Late last year, ExxonMobil Corp. (www.exxonmobil.com) announced the successful startup of its advanced recycling facility in Baytown, Tex. The facility is said to be able to process 80 million lb/yr of plastic waste.
More news on recycling facilities and technologies can be found in “The Latest” section on our website (www.chemengonline.com) and by subscribing to our free “Sustainability Direct” E-newsletter.■
Dorothy Lozowski, Editorial Director
1. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Recycled Plastics in Infrastructure: Current Practices, Understanding, and Opportunities, Washington, D.C., The National Academies Press, 2023.
Featured Conference
November 9-11, 2026Irving Convention Center | Dallas, TX
Explore this topic and more — live at Clean Americas. Join environmental, health, safety, and emergency response professionals tackling the industry's most urgent hazards. View Conference Program →
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
Speaking
Scott Andrews (Trans Mountain Canada Inc., Manager Emergency Management)
Kelly Codlin , MSPH, CIH (Marathon Petroleum Company, Emergency Preparedness Director)
Nick Hickson (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Hazmat Training Manager)
Josh Dubach MSc, CEM (Onterris, Senior Response Management Consultant)
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
Speaking
Steve Pepper, Ph.D., (Onterris, Director of Response Management)
Charles Maguire (Railroad Commission of Texas, Advisor, Oil and Gas Division)
Prof. Shane Walker Ph.D. (Texas Produced Water Consortium, Director)
Ray Cheatham (Onterris, Energy Sector Leader)
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
Speaking
Robert W. May PG (Clean Harbors, Senior Vice President, Branch Services and Sales)
Crosley Welch (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State On-Scene Coordinator)
Samuel Cheek , CSP, RRPT (U.S. EPA, Region 6, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
Christopher Myers (U.S. EPA, Region 9, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
Speaking
James Hanzalik (Clean Gulf Associates, Vice-President)
Gordon Staples (MDA Space Ltd., Senior Radar Applications Scientist)
Grant Coolbaugh (Applied Research Associates / Ohmsett, Mechanical Engineer)
Speaking
Allyson Purcell MEP, CEM (ConocoPhillips, CMER Director)
Michael Delio (Maxum Petroleum, EHS & SECURITY MGR)
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.
Speaking
Mark Steadman (The Battery Network, Program Manager)
Chemical Engineering
Recycling plastics
| By Dorothy Lozowski
Separating recyclables from our trash has become commonplace for many of us. What can be recycled and how it is collected, however, varies quite a bit by location. My town, for example, accepts plastics #1 (polyethylene terephthalate; PET), #2 (high-density polyethylene; HDPE) and #5 (polypropylene; PP). Other locations accept plastics #1–7, which includes low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polystyrene and others. Some towns collect plastics together with metals and glass, and others do not. This variation in collection protocols in the U.S. can be confusing to consumers and is one of the big hurdles to advancing plastic recycling.
A recent report [1] from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (www.nationalacademies.org) finds that private- and public-sector recycling efforts are not well coordinated and says that “action from the public sector at the federal, state and local levels is needed to improve the plastics waste-management system in the U.S.” The report states that recycled plastics are an underutilized resource, and that only about 10% of plastics waste is recycled in the U.S.
Using recycled plastics
The National Academies report summarizes a study that was sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to look at the potential use of recycled plastics in infrastructure. Potential infrastructure applications include asphalt pavement mixes, drainage pipes, railroad ties, bicycle paths, composite utility poles and highway sound barriers. Of these, only drainage pipes shows significant demand at present, according to the report, and more knowledge about a number of factors, including long-term performance, is needed for further adoption. The four plastics with properties that are most suited for infrastructure applications — PET, HDPE, PP and LDPE — are also in demand for applications such as carpeting, clothing and bottles. The report says that more recycled plastics are needed to meet the demand.
Processing technologies
As the demand for recycled plastics increases, companies are investing in processing technologies and facilities. Nova Chemicals Corp. (www.novachem.com), for example, recently announced that it is developing its first mechanical recycling facility to convert post-consumer plastic films to recycled polyethylene (rPE) at commercial scale as early as 2025. The facility, to be located in Connersville, Ind., is expected to deliver over 100 million lb of rPE by 2026.
Nova has also announced that it, together with Plastic Energy, will study the feasibility of developing a pyrolysis-driven advanced recycling facility for polyethylene in Ontario. If built, the facility is expected to be the largest of its type in Canada. Advanced, or chemical recycling, can produce plastics with the same properties as virgin material.
Late last year, ExxonMobil Corp. (www.exxonmobil.com) announced the successful startup of its advanced recycling facility in Baytown, Tex. The facility is said to be able to process 80 million lb/yr of plastic waste.
More news on recycling facilities and technologies can be found in “The Latest” section on our website (www.chemengonline.com) and by subscribing to our free “Sustainability Direct” E-newsletter.■
1. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Recycled Plastics in Infrastructure: Current Practices, Understanding, and Opportunities, Washington, D.C., The National Academies Press, 2023.
Featured Conference
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.