Table 5.

Comparison of polyurethane recycling and degradation methods.

	Large Scale Application	Reaction Conditions	Slabstock Recovery Possibility	Environmental Impact
Landfilling	Yes	Moderate	No	High land usage, possibility of fire, Accumulation in environment Can be applied for postconsumer waste
Mechanical recycling	Yes	Moderate to extreme	No	Applied only to postproduction waste Some of processes demand high temperature and pressure
Chemical recycling	Only glycolysis	Extreme	Yes	Demands high temperatures and pressure Organic solvents, catalysators, and other potentially dangerous chemicals are needed Can be applied for postconsumer waste
Energy recovery	Yes	Extreme	No	Toxic fumes release Ashes need to be landfilled Can be applied for postconsumer waste
Biological degradation	No	Moderate	Yes	Possibility of toxic compounds release Can be applied for postconsumer waste Can lead to complete mineralization of waste Can be applied on already existing landfills