Advanced Recycling: Potential, Controversy, and the Future of Plastics (Part 1)

Despite decades of effort, only about 9% of plastic waste is successfully recycled. The vast majority ends up in landfills or incinerators. In Part 1 of this two-part episode of “The Energy Forum,” Rachel Meidl is joined by Marco Castaldi, professor of chemical engineering at the City College of New York, to unpack the complex world of advanced recycling, also known as chemical or molecular recycling.

They discuss what advanced recycling actually is, how it differs from traditional mechanical recycling, and why it’s become such a hot topic globally, plus:

• Can advanced recycling reduce dependence on fossil-derived plastics?

• Will it complement or compete with current systems?

• What policies and investments are still missing?

This conversation was recorded on July 7, 2025. 

Listen to the full discussion here.