---
title: "A New Kind of Plastic Could Be Recycled Indefinitely"
description: "Scientists developed a new kind of plastic that can be broken down and recycled an indefinite number of times without losing quality."
date: "2020-08-20"
modified: "2020-08-20"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/new-kind-plastic-recycled-indefinitely"
categories:
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "materials"
  - "plastic"
  - "recycling"
  - "the digest"
---

# A New Kind of Plastic Could Be Recycled Indefinitely

![Scientists developed a new kind of plastic that can be broken down and recycled an indefinite number of times without losing quality.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/new-kind-plastic-recycled-indefinitely.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Victor Tangermann\</em\>*

## Plastic Reborn

Scientists say they've developed a kind of plastic that can be recycled an unlimited number of times.

Usually, the recycling process takes a serious toll on the quality of plastics. [But *New Scientist* reports](<https://www.newscientist.com/article/2252265-a-new-type-of-plastic-may-be-the-first-that-is-infinitely-recyclable/>) that the new material, PBTL, can be broken down and remolded into something new that's just as high-quality as the original — meaning, potentially, a whole lot less plastic filling our landfills.

## Boiled Down

The team, led by Colorado State University chemist Eugene Chen, came up with a way to break the plastic back down into individual monomers, [according to research](<https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/34/eabc0495>) published Wednesday in the journal *Science Advances*. All it takes is 24 hours of boiling and chemical treatment.

So as long as the plastic isn't mixed in with any other kinds, Chen told *New Scientist* that PBTL can be broken down and recycled indefinitely.

## Silver Medal

A team from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory developed a [similar, endlessly-recyclable plastic](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/new-recycled-plastic-forever>) last year.

It's encouraging to see developments like these, but the real challenge will likely be getting manufacturers to actually adopt these new low-waste plastics over cheaper options.

**READ MORE:** [A new type of plastic may be the first that is infinitely recyclable](<https://www.newscientist.com/article/2252265-a-new-type-of-plastic-may-be-the-first-that-is-infinitely-recyclable/>) \[*New Scientist*\]

**More on plastic:** *[This New Plastic Can Be Recycled Repeatedly](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/new-recycled-plastic-forever>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)