How Nuclear Tech Could Revolutionise Plastic Recycling

Used in everything from water bottles to medical devices to building materials to clothes; plastic is a given in our daily lives. Yet, only about 9 per cent of plastic is recycled - the rest ends up as trash, polluting seas, oceans, landfills, soil and even the air we breathe.

The world generated 400 million tonnes of plastic waste last year alone. While many plastic products are not designed to be reused and recycled, others can only be recycled once or twice. Plastic is also not biodegradable. Instead of decomposing, discarded plastic materials break down into tiny particles - known as microplastics, which can be toxic to humans and the environment.

Enter an innovative solution: nuclear science. The IAEA is harnessing nuclear technology to both understand and tackle the plastic pollution crisis. The NUTEC Plastics initiative, launched in 2021, helps countries research microplastics already in the seas and uses nuclear techniques to improve recycling, ultimately reducing the flow of plastic waste into the oceans.

To mark World Environment Day, we spoke to Celina Horak, Head of the IAEA's Radiochemistry and Radiation Technologies Section.