YES! We fully subscribe to the Sustainable Waste Management Hierarchy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (US EPA), and support policies and organizations reducing our over-dependence on plastics

But the plastic waste problem is huge and getting worse every day. Even if we were to snap our fingers and immediately cease plastic production globally (and no one expects that day to come anytime soon), there is still 8.3 billion tons (National Geographic) of plastic that has already been produced, reached the end of its useful life, and not been responsibly addressed.

“Current U.S. reprocessing capability is so low that only PET and HDPE are functionally recyclable” (Greenpeace) and less than 30% of PET and HDPE are actually recycled (US EPA),

Add the PET and HDPE that aren’t recycled to the vast majority (EPA) of plastic categories that can’t be practically recycled -- there’s plenty to clean up ”We can’t recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis,” (Greenpeace)

Our plastics crisis is a big, complicated puzzle, requiring a comprehensive response. While Reduction is the first R toward solving the puzzle, Clean Seas is filling in an important piece.

“There are only 4 ways to handle plastic at the end of its life. Plastic waste can be recycled, destroyed or converted to fuel or energy through incineration or pyrolysis, disposed of in managed waste systems or discarded where it ends up in the natural environment, “ - The Ocean Conservancy

Good question!

Recycling /ri:’saɪklɪŋ/ noun: “The action or process of converting waste into reusable material,” (Oxford Languages)

“Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products,” (US EPA)

You may also hear terms like “chemical recycling,” or “advanced recycling” applied to pyrolysis, especially for applications which produce plastic resin instead of fuel (paradoxically creating more plastic, but more like “recycling!”)

Some simply say plastics recycling is a lie. Others say pyrolysis represents Recovery rather than Recycling.

Semantics aside, we focus on the net positive impact of diverting plastics that are not mechanically recycled from landfill or incineration, and converting those plastics to valuable products, offsetting other, harmful ways of producing those same products, and avoiding waste.

No. Incineration is destruction by combustion; combustion requires oxygen, and creates undesirable byproducts.

Pyrolysis is heating feedstock (in this case post-use plastics) within a sealed, air tight chamber to the point of breaking them down into chemical components: pyrolysis oil (precursor to circular plastics), syngas/hydrogen, and <5% solid residue. So, a “no-burn” solution.

No. In fact, Clean Seas’ pyrolysis can work completely independent from the electrical grid; the energy we need can be generated on-site from the syngas created during pyrolysis. According to numerous peer-reviewed independent studies and Life Cycle Analyses (including from Argonne National Laboratory), pyrolysis is more than twice as efficient as Waste-To-Energy incineration, and incalculably more efficient than landfilling or otherwise discarding plastics.

Through Research and Development investments and academic partnerships including Arizona State University's Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Service, and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Clean-Seas is constantly working to reduce energy consumption of its process (where possible with wind/solar, leveraging our our sister company WindStream Technologies), as well as other promising technologies as they achieve commercial viability.

No. Pyrolysis creates no emissions.

The syngas we produce is consumed onsite to heat the pyrolysis system. Emissions from the syngas are far less than EPA and state compliance standards (“minor source.”)

The liquid ultra-low sulfur precursors we produce – for plastic circularity – offset virgin fossil-fuel exploration, extraction, processing and refining. Emissions from what is consumed as fuel will be the same or less (generally far less sulfur) as the fuel it is offsetting.

All products of Clean-Seas' process are designated for beneficial use, including the solid residue. Any waste that is generated for any reason will be transported for disposal by licensed, insured waste haulers, to destinations permitted to accept waste.

Overall, this means Clean Seas yields a significant net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. We pledge full transparency of any and all environmental impacts, and will share all impact data on our website.

No, #1 & #2 post-use plastics enjoy a strong market -- primarily in textile manufacturing – even after China’s National Sword policy Clean Seas will primarily convert plastics that are not readily recyclable (#4-7 plastics)

The Clean Seas model actually enhances overall recycling in several ways --

● saving taxpayers and towns substantial fees they currently pay to dispose of their plastic waste,

● adding much-needed transparency to where our waste goes, and

● reducing the impact of “wishcycling” contamination; our process can handle almost all plastics.