Plastics recycling has developed steadily over the years and is carried out on a considerable scale in many countries, with recovered material being shipped all around the world. The various types of plastics may appear similar but represent quite distinct groups of materials of different molecular construction, and so recycling depends on the use of effective and efficient identification and separation technologies.

To assist the development of the plastics recycling sector, BIR is investigating the development of a single, authoritative list of plastic scrap specifications to help in the drawing-up of contracts and to avoid any confusion when trading these materials around the world.

Recycling is particularly successful in situations where large volumes of readily-classifiable materials are available, such as pallet wrapping or sacks used by industry and the agricultural sector. The more expensive secondary plastics, such as those arising from computers, photocopiers and a wide range of similar electronic equipment, are normally in considerable demand. Spectrometry is among the techniques used to ensure precise identification of those materials which, after processing, are often employed in the manufacture of new electrical and electronic equipment.

Recycling changes the mechanical properties of plastics to some extent, thus for that reason alone it may not be possible to recycle large quantities of a particular type straight back into the same production process.

Recovery of plastics packaging presents the greatest challenge, not least in achieving economic collection of sufficient segregated material to make recycling viable. The PET bottle, which is being used in increasing quantities in many countries for marketing drinks, is an excellent example of a highly-recyclable form of packaging.

The cost of collecting small quantities of material from a multitude of sources is a major obstacle to dynamic progress in recycling many polymers. In some countries, public policy is placing a responsibility for recovery on manufacturers and distributors of packaging and other products under the so-called "producer responsibility" principle. This is likely to lead to increased plastics recycling because some elements of traditional commercial costs will be covered - initially by the manufacturer and distributor, but ultimately by the consumer in slightly higher product prices.