Understanding recycling means understanding the entire process of recovering and reusing materials. When it comes to plastics in particular, it quickly becomes clear that recycling is far more complex than it may seem at first glance. While plastic is an incredibly versatile material, it is not biodegradable, and not all types of plastic can be recycled equally well.

What Is Recycling?

Recycling refers to the processing and recovery of used materials so they can be returned to the production cycle. The goal is to conserve resources, reduce waste, and keep valuable materials in use for as long as possible.

The term covers a wide range of materials, including metals, paper, glass, and plastics. Successful recycling depends heavily on accurate sorting, as each material requires a different treatment and recycling process.

Examples of materials that are particularly suitable for recycling include:

  • Scrap metals

  • Paper and cardboard

  • Glass

  • Certain types of plastics

Recycling Processes: Reuse, Repurposing, and Material Recovery

Several different approaches fall under the broader concept of recycling:

Reuse: A product is used again for the same purpose, such as refillable beverage bottles.

Repurposing: Materials are used for a new application. For example, rubber from used tires can be turned into flooring materials.

Material Recovery: Waste materials are processed into secondary raw materials that can be used in manufacturing, such as recycled glass being transformed into new glass packaging.

Together, these processes form essential pillars of a functioning circular economy.

Plastic Recycling: Why Not All Plastics Are the Same

In Germany alone, around 5.6 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste are generated every year. Yet less than one-third is actually recycled.

The reason is simple: plastic is not a single material.

Plastics consist of polymers combined with additives that determine properties such as durability, flexibility, or heat resistance. These additives often complicate the recycling process.

Common Types of Plastics

PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
Applications: Beverage bottles, food packaging, textiles
→ Highly recyclable

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
Applications: Milk containers, pipes, plastic bags
→ Highly recyclable

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Applications: Windows, pipes
→ Difficult to recycle

LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
Applications: Packaging films, bags
→ Generally recyclable

PP (Polypropylene)
Applications: Packaging, toys
→ Generally recyclable

PS (Polystyrene)
Applications: Disposable packaging, trays
→ Limited recyclability

Other Plastics (e.g. ABS, PC)
→ Often difficult to identify and recycle

This wide variety of materials explains why plastic recycling is technically challenging and heavily dependent on effective sorting systems.

Recycling in Practice: Cambodia and Albania

Cambodia: Sorting as the Key to Recovery

In Cambodia, collected waste consists of multiple material streams, including PET, PP, PS, HDPE, LDPE, PVC, textiles, and non-recyclable materials.

Recyclable plastics such as PET and PP are sorted and transferred to local recycling facilities. Textiles can be repurposed into new products through partners such as ReMade Cambodia.

Where possible, non-recyclable materials are processed through co-processing solutions with local partners for energy recovery. Only a small fraction ultimately requires landfill disposal.

Albania: High Volumes of Recyclable Plastics

In Albania, approximately two-thirds of the collected waste consists of recyclable materials, particularly PET.

At the Zero-Waste Center, these materials are sorted, compressed into bales, and transported to recycling facilities in Tirana.

Non-recyclable materials currently have to be disposed of at secured landfill sites due to the lack of alternative treatment infrastructure in the region.

Why Recycling Alone Is Not Enough

Globally, less than 10% of all plastic ever produced is recycled. In Europe, the figure is approximately 15%.

Modern plastic products are often made from mixed materials, contain additives, or become contaminated during use, making recycling significantly more difficult.

This highlights an important reality: Recycling alone cannot solve the global plastic pollution crisis.

A sustainable solution requires:

  • Reducing plastic production

  • Designing products for better recyclability

  • Expanding local waste management infrastructure

  • Reducing waste exports

  • Strengthening circular economy systems

Conclusion: Understanding Recycling Means Understanding Responsibility

Understanding recycling also means recognizing that plastic recycling is not a perfect closed-loop system. It is a complex combination of material science, sorting technologies, infrastructure, and environmental responsibility.

Long-term solutions to the global plastic crisis require more than recycling alone. Only by combining effective recycling systems with waste prevention, improved product design, and a functioning circular economy can we significantly reduce plastic pollution and create a more sustainable future.