Plastic pollution has become a critical global issue, with plastic production increasing from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 400.3 million metric tons in 2022. The packaging industry, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is a major contributor, with over 90% of PET bottles ending up in landfills or oceans. To address this, sustainable management and recycling solutions are essential. This review examines PET's chemical and physical properties, current circular economy strategies, and effective recycling methods. It highlights the benefits of advancing PET management within a circular economy framework, such as reduced landfill waste, minimized energy consumption, and conserved raw resources. The review focuses on heterogeneous catalytic glycolysis, which stands out for its rapid reaction time, high monomer yields, ease of catalyst recovery and reuse, lower costs, and enhanced durability. The use of highly efficient oxide-based catalysts for PET glycolytic degradation is emphasized as a promising solution for large-scale industrial applications. The review also discusses various recycling methods, including primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary recycling, as well as "zero-order" and biological recycling techniques. Glycolysis is identified as a highly effective and promising recycling approach, offering high monomer yields, purity, and short reaction times. The review concludes by emphasizing the importance of glycolysis in achieving a circular economy and promoting sustainable PET management.Plastic pollution has become a critical global issue, with plastic production increasing from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 400.3 million metric tons in 2022. The packaging industry, particularly polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is a major contributor, with over 90% of PET bottles ending up in landfills or oceans. To address this, sustainable management and recycling solutions are essential. This review examines PET's chemical and physical properties, current circular economy strategies, and effective recycling methods. It highlights the benefits of advancing PET management within a circular economy framework, such as reduced landfill waste, minimized energy consumption, and conserved raw resources. The review focuses on heterogeneous catalytic glycolysis, which stands out for its rapid reaction time, high monomer yields, ease of catalyst recovery and reuse, lower costs, and enhanced durability. The use of highly efficient oxide-based catalysts for PET glycolytic degradation is emphasized as a promising solution for large-scale industrial applications. The review also discusses various recycling methods, including primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary recycling, as well as "zero-order" and biological recycling techniques. Glycolysis is identified as a highly effective and promising recycling approach, offering high monomer yields, purity, and short reaction times. The review concludes by emphasizing the importance of glycolysis in achieving a circular economy and promoting sustainable PET management.