Do recycled plastic pellets carry plastic additives?
Yes. A 2026 Science of the Total Environment study found phthalates, other plasticizers, and organophosphates in recycled polyethylene and polypropylene pellets.
What's actually in it
Recycled plastic pellets are small pieces of old plastic that get melted and made into new products. If the old plastic carried additives, some of those chemicals can stay in the recycled material.
The chemicals in this study included DEHP and DiNP phthalates, DiNA, ATBC, DEHT, and organophosphates such as TCEP and TCPP.
What the research says
A 2026 study in Science of the Total Environment tested 44 recycled plastic pellet samples made mostly from polyethylene and polypropylene.
The study detected DEHP in 75% of samples, DiNP in 20%, ATBC in 75%, DEHT in 86%, TCEP in 39%, and TCPP in 68%. Concentrations varied by plastic source.
The authors' first dermal exposure risk screen found very low risk for the measured chemicals. That matters. The honest takeaway is not panic. It is that recycled plastic can carry additives from past use, and product history is hard to see on a label.
What to do at home
For items kids handle often, choose simple materials when there is an easy swap. Wood toys, glass food storage, and stainless steel kitchen tools avoid the recycled plastic additive question.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Quantification of phthalates, non-phthalate plasticizers, and organophosphates in recycled plastic pellets. | Sci Total Environ | 2026 |