ABSTRACT
One of the by-products of a highly industrialized society is a massive amount of waste that must be dealt with in one way or another. Although discarded plastic accounts for less than 10% by weight of all waste (much less, for instance, than either paper or grass clippings in the United States), it is perceived by the general public as a major contributor to the overall problem of waste disposal. As such, the disposition of plastic after it has fulfilled its original purpose is a problem that the polymer industry must confront. Consequently there is continuing interest in learning how to recycle plastic waste efficiently and, incidentally, in improving the overall image of "plastic" in the mind of the public.
