[RWebb]

a lot depends on how you define "recycling" and which plastic is involved

also, reprocessing energy cost is not the only factor to consider - there are benefits to reducing landfill volumes and pollution from manf. of new plastic; but there is the cost to transport the old material too

right now, markets for PET and HDPE "recycling" (chopping it up and remolding with some adjuncts added; not completely tearing down every polymer bond) are in good shape