According to public data released by the United Nations Environment Programme, the global annual processing of waste plastics currently exceeds 400 million tons. However, only about 9% of the waste plastics are recycled and utilized, with the majority being landfilled or abandoned in the environment.

Low-value waste plastics refer to plastic waste with relatively low value generated during the process of plastic recycling and regeneration. They usually do not meet the standards of high-value recycled plastics due to their quality, composition, or degree of contamination. These waste plastics face numerous challenges in the recycling process, such as mixed materials, unclear classification and positioning, and difficulty in cleaning. As a result, the cost of recycling is high and the process is complex.

The utilization of low – value waste plastics is important, encompassing environmental protection, resource conservation, and economic benefits. By reusing low – value waste plastics, we can reduce reliance on natural resources and mitigate the negative environmental impacts. For instance, plastic to oil, which transforms plastic waste into oil products, can decrease greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption associated with petroleum extraction and plastic production.

Waste plastics recycling and reuse can achieve the effective circulation and utilization of resources, reducing the demand for raw materials. In terms of economy, the utilization of low – value waste plastics can promote the development of the recycling and regeneration industry, create employment opportunities and drive economic growth. Resource utilization of low – value waste plastics means transforming plastic waste with high recycling costs and low reuse value into new products or raw materials through appropriate treatment and reprocessing. Low – value waste plastics usually include hard plastic packaging such as plastic bags, cling film, foam boards, plastic takeout boxes, milk cartons (composite packaging of paper, plastic, and aluminum), beverage cups, yogurt boxes, and daily chemical packaging, as well as soft plastic packaging such as shopping bags and snack bags.

These waste plastics are difficult to be comprehensively utilized through physical recycling methods. Chemical recycling is the most scientific and rational way to deal with low-value waste plastics. Chemical recycling technology can transform low-value waste plastics that cannot be effectively and economically recycled through physical recycling into plastic raw materials with the same quality as those produced using crude oil, achieving the closed-loop development of the plastic industry.

Niutech from China is a benchmark enterprise in this field. Its independently developed plastic pyrolysis device can effectively achieve the chemical recycling of waste plastics, transforming plastic waste into oil and solid fuels, etc. Especially for low-value waste plastics, it can effectively explore their existing resource value, turning waste into wealth.

Specific application cases:

Thailand Project

Denmark Project

In addition, carbon emissions from the plastic industry are also one of the important reasons for global warming. The plastic industry generates 1.7 billion tons of carbon emissions each year, accounting for 3.4% of global carbon emissions. With the continuous growth of plastic production and consumption, it is estimated that by 2050, the carbon emissions from the plastic industry will account for more than 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Traditional incineration and landfill disposal methods can no longer meet the current international material pollution control requirements. Chemical recycling of waste plastics has become very important. Among many technological routes, plastic pyrolysis technology has stood out and become the first choice for many countries that value recycling and reuse.

With the improvement of environmental awareness and the progress of technology, the market prospects for the resource utilization of low-value waste plastics are becoming increasingly broad, and it is expected to become a key area in the construction of waste recycling systems.