Brazil: A Success Story in Mechanical Plastic Recycling

There has been a lot of talk over the last 18 months about how post-consumer plastic recycling has been an abysmal failure worldwide. That much is true. But it is false to assume that mechanical recycling cannot be done efficiently or profitably. It can, and Brazil continues to prove it. As a nation, Brazil has consistently been one of the few success stories in plastic recycling.

More Than Double the Global Rate

A variety of data sources generally puts the global rate of plastic recycling at about 9%. That is on the high side. This is to say that 91% of the plastics produced every year end up in landfills and incinerators. Brazil is a different story. The South American country has made a concerted effort to increase the amount of plastic they recycle. They are doing an amazing job. Their recycling rate is more than double the global average.

Data compiled in 2023 shows that Brazilians recycled approximately 25.6% of their post-consumer plastics in 2022. Impressively, the number represents a 46% increase since data tracking began in 2018. Brazil’s success with mechanical plastic recycling should be a wakeup call to the rest of the world.

In addition to a higher-than-average recycling rate, Brazil has also managed to target specific types of plastic the rest of the world seems to struggle with. For example, just over 69% of the plastics recycled in 2022 were classified as disposable plastic packaging. Brazil recycled more than a ton of it.

They Think They Can Do Even Better

What most amazes me about Brazil’s commitment to plastic recycling is the fact that they believe they can do even better. Furthermore, they are not afraid to do what’s necessary to improve plastic recycling. This is what sets them apart from most of the rest of the world.

It should be noted that there were 711 active plastic recyclers in Brazil in 2022. That is up from 677 the year before. The industry employs more than 18,000 people and generates annual revenues of about BRL 4,721 million ($9.5 million).

Undoubtedly, profit plays a significant role in Brazil’s success. Give entrepreneurs the opportunity to make good money with plastic recycling and they will figure out how to do it. Recyclers in Brazil are no different than the industrial plastic recyclers here in the U.S.

Recycling Tons Every Year

Seraphim Plastics is one such company. Based in Tennessee, Seraphim acquires tons of industrial scrap plastic every year. They rely on a mechanical recycling process to transform the scrap into a product known as regrind. Manufacturers purchase the regrind and use it to make new plastic parts.

Successful post-industrial plastic recycling relies on buyers and sellers both doing their part. As the buyer, Seraphim will haul away and recycle all sorts of industrial plastics. Sellers agree to provide clean and sorted loads at the point of pickup, thus eliminating any need for Seraphim staff members to clean and sort. That saves money and allows the company to sell regrind at a profit.

The challenge with post-consumer plastic recycling is cleaning and sorting. American consumers are generally unwilling to do what Seraphim’s clients do: ensure proper sorting and cleaning prior to pick-up. That’s why consumer plastic recycling has been such an abysmal failure here.

It is possible to successfully recycle a lot more plastic than we currently do. Brazil is living proof. Their example of success is also sufficient motivation to find ways to do it even better. We can recycle a lot more plastic if we collectively put in the necessary time and effort.