Growing Impact

Plastic recycling with coal

October 5, 2026·19 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Plastic recycling is difficult for a simple reason: Plastics are designed to last. Penn State researchers are testing whether tiny particles of Pennsylvania anthracite coal can absorb laser light and deliver targeted heat to break polymer bonds. If successful, the approach could use less energy, require less sorting, and make more types of plastic easier to recycle.

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