The U.S. Plastics Recycling Economy
This online engineering PDH course offers a comprehensive introduction to the U.S. plastics recycling economy, focusing on the current state of recycling, its economic and environmental dimensions, and strategies for overcoming barriers to higher recycling rates.
This course explores the production, usage, and disposal of plastics in the United States, while comparing current practices with international recycling leaders. It examines the technical, economic, and policy aspects of plastics recycling, including both mechanical and chemical pathways, and highlights the environmental trade-offs and market dynamics that shape recycling systems. It also presents key challenges such as contamination, high costs, consumer awareness gaps, and fragmented programs balanced against opportunities like extended producer responsibility (EPR), bottle deposit laws, and innovations in sorting and collection.
Moreover, this course analyzes the economic value of plastics manufacturing and recycling, the environmental benefits of circularity, and the potential of emerging technologies such as pyrolysis, gasification, and solvent-based recycling depending on case studies. It also addresses the role of global markets, export dependencies, and the challenges of mismanaged plastic waste, offering participants a broad perspective on both domestic and international recycling outcomes.
In addition, this course examines the policy and regulatory frameworks influencing U.S. plastics recycling, from state-level initiatives to federal programs and global comparisons. Also, it highlights opportunities for scaling recycling through innovation, public-private partnerships, and improved data collection systems.
This 6 PDH online course is applicable to environmental engineers, waste management practitioners as well as other professionals who are interested in learning more about the U.S. recycling economy for plastics.
This PE continuing education course is intended to provide you with the following specific knowledge and skills:
- Understanding the U.S. plastics recycling system, including production, usage, disposal pathways, and stakeholder incentives
- Differentiating between mechanical and chemical recycling processes, assessing readiness, costs, and environmental impacts
- Analyzing barriers and opportunities such as contamination, infrastructure costs, consumer behavior, and policy design
- Comparing successful recycling models from U.S. deposit systems and international leaders like Germany, Austria, and South Korea
- Evaluating economic and environmental dimensions, including resin pricing, landfill losses, carbon impacts, and microplastic concerns
- Exploring regulatory frameworks and future opportunities, from extended producer responsibility and mass balance accounting to advanced recycling technologies
Upon successful completion of the quiz, print your Certificate of Completion instantly. (Note: if you are paying by check or money order, you will be able to print it after we receive your payment.) For your convenience, we will also email it to you. Please note that you can log in to your account at any time to access and print your Certificate of Completion.