If you’ve been following the news, it’s no surprise that plastic waste is a problem. In fact, plastic and lubricant container waste is a very big problem. Addressing this problem requires collective action and we’ll tell you why.

Recycling and recovery of post-consumer plastic packaging provide a sustainable option to decrease the volume of plastic waste that needs final disposal, and it is an important step towards a circular economy. However, the rate of hard-to-degrade plastics recycling remains very low in the US. Lubricant containers, made from pigmented HDPE, are 7.5 times less likely to be recycled and their degradation can take up to 100 years depending on the thickness of the container. 

The rise in the production of transportation units in the United States has led to higher consumption of lubricant oil. The end-of-life management of the lubricant containers is of high relevance due to the increase of the number of difficult degradation types of plastics that end up in landfills each year and the low potential of acceptance by recycling facilities. The increased cost of recycling combined with lower market prices for post-consumer resins causes that most of the HDPE lubricant containers are landfilled.

It is important to search for technology-based solutions to improve recycling methods and rates. A solution that involves the active participation of the population has a high potential of being successful. Collective action is important to organize recycling and recovery initiatives, especially for pigmented HDPE plastics.

Collective action refers to action taken as a group by people whose objective is to strengthen their condition and achieve a common objective. The Recycling Partnership with the Polypropylene Recycling Coalition is a great example. For them, collaboration is their heartbeat, and they know that to be able to make bold changes within a community, building trust and collaboration between many is essential.  

There is no company alone that can shift the existing industry and community standards. To push the change within society, it is needed that companies, manufacturers, competitors, civil society, and governmental organizations come together to share best practices and as a united front. 

Collective action lies at the core of any civil society, and the implementation of effective and sustainable waste management strategies is of critical importance for lubricant container recycling needs. The challenges with recycling lubricant containers, given the costs of virgin plastics, have resulted in minimal solutions.

The expansion in the production of transportation puts pressure on the existing recycling infrastructure, which has not adapted to the needs of the entire recyclables stream. Investments in collection and recycling infrastructure are needed to help meet the US’s disposal management needs and create a resilient solid waste system that can withstand an increasing demand and pressures from disruptions.  

From industries to households, everyone has an essential role in reducing the lubricant container waste problem in the US and this cannot be achieved without the participation ranging from civil society to the private sector. 

The US lubricant industry is taking a leadership stance on this national issue with the formation of the National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition (NLCRC). The NLCRC is an industry-led technical coalition, established by a committed group of industry leaders in lubricant and associated plastic packaging manufacturing, focused on establishing solutions for post-consumer recovery and recycling of plastic lubricant containers. 

The NLCRC was established at the beginning of 2021 where our founding leaders include Castrol, Valvoline, Pennzoil - Quaker State Company, Graham Packaging, and Plastipak Packaging.

The implementation of effective and sustainable waste management strategies is of critical importance for the US. Learn how the NLCRC is addressing the waste problem by becoming a member. Connect with us through LinkedIn and Twitter. If you have any questions or inquires, send us an email at hello@nationallcrc.com.