Tonight the Perpetual Notion Machine talks with Professor George Huber and Professor Reid van Lehn of the University of Wisconsin – Madison Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Department of Energy’s Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. They are the co-authors of the paper ‘Recycling of multilayer plastic packaging materials by solvent-targeted recovery and precipitation’, which details a new process to recycle complex postindustrial waste that is as cost effective to manufacturers as using new plastics.

PNM discusses their technique, which is the first (!) to recycle multilayer plastics that have always gone to landfills, plus the plastic lifecycle, recycling industry, and how their work can be used to cut down on plastic waste.

Seeing plastic everywhere you go now? It’s a common side effect of talking about plastic. Join host Emily Morris at the end of the show for ways you can reduce your plastic footprint. And if you want more ideas on how to start your own personal zero waste movement, check out Trash Is For Tossers.