Clean Cycle 1.0 and 2.0: Maximize Plastic Recycling Without Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals

Recycling of used materials, including plastics, can reduce the need for natural resources and energy. However, if hazardous chemicals are initially present in the materials or unintentionally enter the recycling process, the products made from recycled material may be contaminated and lead to undesired human exposure. In Switzerland, only a minor fraction of used plastics is currently recycled (with an exception being the high recycling rate of PET bottles), while the vast majority is incinerated. However, ongoing political discussions are pushing for enhanced mate-rial recycling to save resources. Thus, this project aims at investigating whether optimized plas-tic material flows can bring environmental benefits while minimizing the risks to human health. Combining the results of two focus areas (described in more detail below) will provide a com-prehensive analysis of plastics recycling, quantifying the benefits in terms of resource efficiency as well as the adverse environmental impacts and health risks from contaminated recycled plas-tics. This will allow to determine an optimal degree of recycling and identify plastic fractions that should be sorted out and disposed of to avoid critical exposure. It will also provide recommen-dations for recycling-friendly product design.