The article discusses the challenges and opportunities in plastics recycling. Plastics, known for their low cost, lightweight, and durability, have seen a significant increase in production over the past 60 years, leading to environmental issues such as non-renewable resource consumption and waste accumulation. Recycling is highlighted as a crucial strategy to reduce these impacts, offering opportunities to decrease oil usage, carbon dioxide emissions, and waste disposal. The authors review the current systems and technologies for plastics recycling, including mechanical, chemical, and energy recovery methods. They emphasize the importance of improving sorting and separation technologies to handle mixed plastics and flexible packaging, which pose significant challenges. The economic viability of recycling is also discussed, noting that technological advancements and policy support have made recycling more financially attractive. The article concludes by highlighting the need for further improvements in recycling practices to address the growing waste generation and the environmental benefits of recycling.The article discusses the challenges and opportunities in plastics recycling. Plastics, known for their low cost, lightweight, and durability, have seen a significant increase in production over the past 60 years, leading to environmental issues such as non-renewable resource consumption and waste accumulation. Recycling is highlighted as a crucial strategy to reduce these impacts, offering opportunities to decrease oil usage, carbon dioxide emissions, and waste disposal. The authors review the current systems and technologies for plastics recycling, including mechanical, chemical, and energy recovery methods. They emphasize the importance of improving sorting and separation technologies to handle mixed plastics and flexible packaging, which pose significant challenges. The economic viability of recycling is also discussed, noting that technological advancements and policy support have made recycling more financially attractive. The article concludes by highlighting the need for further improvements in recycling practices to address the growing waste generation and the environmental benefits of recycling.