Step:
Separation and sorting: this occurs based on shape, density, size, color or chemical composition.
Baling: if the plastic is not processed where it is sorted, it is often baled in between for transport purposes.
Washing: removal of (often organic) contaminants.
Grinding: size reduction from products to flakes.
Compounding & pelletizing: optional reprocessing of the flakes into a granulate, which is easier to use for converters than flakes.

Chemolysis
Pyrolysis
Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC)
Hydrogen technologies
KDV process
Gasification combined with methanol production
Toxicity of pyrolysis and gasification products

Challenges:
polymers will degrade under certain conditions (heat, oxidation, light, ionic radiation, hydrolysis and mechanical shear).

Mechanical and chemical recycling have high industrial potential and can be complimentary pathways for closing the loop on polymers; in any case they remain vastly preferable to energy recovery and landfilling.

Blackground:
Rates of recycling for plastic bags are low
Plastic does not degrade quickly
Plastic is made from petrochemicals

Mitigation actions:
(1) prohibition or restriction, which involves a ban or heavy curtailment;
(2) an attempt to change behavioural norms, typically via public education, persuasion, or appeals to emotion;
(3) market-based mechanisms, such as a tax or a subsidy, intended to either substantially increase or decrease the cost of a behaviour;
(4) nudging, which involves the deployment of subtle prompts to encourage but not compel alternative behaviours

Requiring retailers to impose a $0.05 levy on each disposable bag given to customers

Conclusions:
The effectiveness of economic nudging varies substantially across behavioural and demographic groups. Economic nudges are meant to be highly visible, serving as choice reminders and prompts for behavioural change.
Policy primarily affected the behaviours of people who were already occasionally carrying reusable bags, prompting them to increase their frequency of use.
Social class (broadly defined) plays an important role in sensitivity to economic nudges

Background:
Marine plastic pollution has become a significant environmental concern for governments, scientists, non-governmental organizations, and members of the public worldwide.

Macroplastics (> 5 mm)

Microplastics (< 5 mm): primary microplastics (e.g., microbeads), and secondary microplastics, from degraded macroplastics.

The ICC encourages other NGOs and volunteer groups to engage in mitigating marine debris by cleaning up coastal areas across the globe.
The Honolulu Strategy outlines strategies for prevention and management of marine debris. (UNEP and NOAA, 2015).
The Honolulu Strategy has been adapted across the globe to meet the specific needs of different regions, such as Canada and the U.S. (Pettipas et al., 2016). Two strategies from the Honolulu Strategy are of particular interest. One focuses on market-based instruments (e.g., levies on new plastic bags) for minimizing waste. A second strategy creates policies, regulations, and legislation to reduce marine debris (e.g., imposing bans on microbeads and/or plastic bag production).

Policies have been developed across a number of nations to ban primarily the use and sale of, but also the manufacturing of microbeads. Measures to reduce plastic bag pollution have included bans (including both full and partial) and levies, and these interventions have occurred both regionally and nationally. Although reduction strategies provide tools to reduce single-use plastics at source, it is recommended that consistent measures continue to be implemented to mitigate plastic bag and microbeads pollution. However, it is equally important that research measure the positive impacts of these measures in the short- and long-term. Education campaigns will likely help to further reduce plastic pollution caused by microbeads and plastic bags at source.