Chemical recycling

Chemical recycling is discussed as an alternative or addition to mechanical recycling of plastic waste, which is considered to have both the possibility of removing pollutants and the potential of using waste that is difficult to recycle or heavily contaminated. The techniques of chemical recycling are not yet established and its position within the circular economy has not yet been finally determined. This background paper deals with the legal and technical basis and gives a first assessment of the German Environment Agency regarding the future application options of chemical recycling.