New method uses collisions to break down plastic for recycling

The accumulation of plastics in landfills poses a significant environmental challenge, particularly with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a widely used plastic in bottles and packaging. Researchers at Georgia Tech have pioneered a mechanochemical method that utilizes mechanical forces, such as collisions, to decompose PET into its fundamental building blocks. This innovative approach circumvents the need for heat or hazardous chemicals, addressing the inefficiencies of traditional recycling methods. By employing metal balls to strike solid PET, the team demonstrated that these impacts can fac