From Mechanical to Molecular: What ‘Advanced Recycling’ Actually Means
Table of Contents
Author(s)
Rachel A. Meidl
Fellow in Energy and Sustainability | CES Deputy Director
About the Episode
The Center for Energy Studies recently hosted its second annual sustainability summit, bringing together experts to examine sustainability challenges from a systems-level perspective.
In this episode of “The Energy Forum,” Rachel A. Meidl is joined by two speakers from the summit: Marco Castaldi, professor at City College of New York and cochair of the Recycling Science Council, and Katherine Hofman, sustainability strategic initiatives manager at Eastman.
Together, they unpack the growing confusion around plastics recycling, particularly the terminology and taxonomy surrounding advanced recycling. They discuss how mechanical recycling differs from advanced, molecule‑level processes; why oversimplified narratives about recycling can mislead policymakers and the public; and how clearer definitions can shape more informed regulations, investments, and waste‑reduction strategies.
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About ‘The Energy Forum’
Hosted by experts at the Baker Institute Center for Energy Studies, “The Energy Forum” podcast brings together policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to explore key topics in energy and sustainability.
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