New method enables repeated recycling of acrylic
Dr Jon Husband led the research at the University’s Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change (Photo: University of Bath)
April 2, 2026 – Researchers at the University of Bath have developed a method to recycle acrylic multiple times without losing quality. Acrylic, also known as PMMA, is widely used in products such as screens and construction materials but is difficult to recycle using conventional methods.
The new process uses ultraviolet light and operates at relatively low temperatures of 120 to 180 degrees Celsius. It breaks the material down into monomers, which can then be reused to produce new acrylic.
Experiments show that more than 95 percent of the material can be converted, with over 70 percent recovered as usable raw material. The method could support more efficient use of resources.
