Planet Money had a small article on an anticipatable, but fairly out of the spotlight, result of the decline of oil prices.
Apparently, the lesser-value-added portion of the recycled plastics stream is something the recyclers have not been able to keep going. So-called 'plastic bags' - that's LDPE usually, I think - represent that lowest rung. As such, most plastic bags that are sent to recycling cannot find a buyer, so they are now going to landfills. Back to the Bad Old Days.
This article concerns the situation in the USA; I don't have any insight as to what's occurring in Europe, Japan or other places.
Link is here:
Low Oil Prices Interfere With What Recyclers Are Paid For Plastic : NPR
Apparently, the lesser-value-added portion of the recycled plastics stream is something the recyclers have not been able to keep going. So-called 'plastic bags' - that's LDPE usually, I think - represent that lowest rung. As such, most plastic bags that are sent to recycling cannot find a buyer, so they are now going to landfills. Back to the Bad Old Days.
This article concerns the situation in the USA; I don't have any insight as to what's occurring in Europe, Japan or other places.
Link is here:
Low Oil Prices Interfere With What Recyclers Are Paid For Plastic : NPR
