Zooming into recycling of composites

The widespread use of plastic has led to an environmental crisis, with an estimated 6300 Mt. of plastic waste generated in 2018, of which only 9% was recycled, 12% burned, and 79% dumped in the environment or landfills. The production and disposal of plastics have a significant impact on the environment, with landfills and natural environments predicted to accumulate 12 billion tons of plastic waste by 2050. The COVID-19 pandemic has further increased plastic waste due to the use of personal protective equipment, disposable dinnerware, and plastic-wrapped food. To address this issue, a concerted global effort is needed to minimize plastic waste throughout the plastic lifecycle, including reducing waste output, increasing waste collection and recycling, and removing plastic pollution from the environment. Recycling plastic waste is critical, as it not only reduces the cost of garbage disposal but also helps recover energy from plastics and reduces the need for virgin materials. Composite materials, such as polymer-matrix composites, metal-matrix composites, and ceramic-matrix composites, offer superior quality, durability, and reduced energy usage, making them a popular choice in many engineering applications, particularly in the transportation industry. Good waste management systems are necessary for the proper disposal and recycling of composite materials. This chapter focuses on the recycling of composite materials as a way to address the growing issue of plastic waste and its impact on the environment.