Understanding Plastic Disposal Pathways: A Deep Dive on Pyrolysis

Landfilling and stockpiling are common disposal pathways for used agricultural plastic in the USA. Alternative pathways include chemical recycling, advanced recycling, pyrolysis, and mechanical recycling. This webinar will cover the technical distinctions between mechanical recycling and pyrolysis, clarify common terminology, and explore real-world applications. Presenters will discuss technical definitions and processes, pyrolysis commercialization. It will also cover the role of life-cycle assessment of end-of-life options for polyethylene plastic, along with a brief on policy status and concerns surrounding pyrolysis implementation. Speakers include: -Anja Brandon, Plastics Policy, Ocean Conservancy -Dada Oluwatunmise, Bioprocessing & Bioproducts Engineering Laboratory, Washington State University -Jianying Wang, Bioprocessing & Bioproducts Engineering Laboratory, Washington State University -Karl Englund, Washington State University -Kevin DeWhitt, PDO Technologies This webinar was recorded on July 21, 2026.