An Introduction About Plastic Recycling
The method of recovering waste or scrap plastic and reprocessing the materials into usable and valuable items is known as plastic recycling. The plastic recycling process is the term for this activity. Plastic recycling aims to minimize high levels of plastic waste while reducing the need for virgin materials to make new plastic items. This method conserves money and keeps plastic out of landfills and unintended places like the ocean.
The Need For Recycling Plastic
Plastics are a long-lasting, lightweight, and low-cost material. They can be easily moulded into a variety of items that can be used in a variety of applications. Plastics are produced by over 420 million tones per year all over the world. 1 As a result, the reuse, recovery, and recycling of plastics are important.
Recyclable Plastics :
6 common types of plastics:
Here are some typical products you will find for each plastic:
- PS (Polystyrene)
- Foam hot drink cups
- Plastic cutlery
- Containers
- Yoghurt
- PP (Polypropylene)
- Lunchboxes
- Take-out food containers
- Ice cream containers
- LDPE (Low-density polyethene)
- Garbage bins
- Bags
- PVC (Plasticised Polyvinyl chloride or polyvinyl chloride)
- Cordial
- Juice
- Squeeze bottles
- HDPE (High-density polyethene)
- Shampoo containers
- Milk bottles
- PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)
- Fruit juice
- Soft drink bottles
Only PET, HDPE, and PVC plastic materials are currently recyclable by curbside recycling services. PS, PP, and LDPE are normally not recycled because processing these plastics are more complex and costly. 2 Lids and bottle tops are also not recyclable. When it comes to plastic recycling, the dilemma of “to recycle or not to recycle” is a significant one. Any forms of plastic aren’t recycled because it’s not cost-effective to do so.
Plastic Recycling Process
The specific methods differ depending on the plastic resin or the form of the plastic component.
The following two-step procedure is used by the majority of plastic recycling facilities:
Step 1: Sorting plastics, either automatically or manually, to ensure that all pollutants are separated from the waste stream.
Step 2: Melting down plastics directly into a new form or shredding plastics into flakes and melting them down before being refined into granulates.
Looking Ahead
End-of-life plastic management is impossible without recycling. Increased public awareness and the efficiency of recycling activities have resulted in higher recycling rates. Continuous investment in research and development would help to improve operational performance.
More post-consumer plastic materials and containers will be recycled, which would increase recycling and remove more end-of-life plastic waste from landfills. Industry and policymakers will also aid in the promotion of recycling by encouraging or incentivizing the use of recycled resin rather than virgin plastics.
Recycle It All — No Matter How Small!
Plastic components are processed into valuable products to make recyclable and recyclable waste plastics. As a the process of converting discarded or has somewhat moved result, the wheel of production
waste plastics into human-friendly products.
But due to the inefficiency of the production components and the lack of modern technology, the recovery of waste plastics or scrap is somewhat hampered.
Recycling plastic materials is currently a challenge due to their low density.
The plastic material gives us comfort in using our daily work, which is very useful. As waste plastic and recycling work increases, so will the use of plastic for us. It is interesting to see that different types of plastic zucchini are in a particular shape. In that case, they tend to phase-separate, and it can be oil and water, also set in these layers. Additional virgin materials are added when the plastic is resuscitated to improve its integrity. Only a small portion of plastic is recycled about 2-3 times. Moreover, new plastic materials are added to recycled plastic and which plastics have a resin code that is collected for recycling.
Nowadays, plastic waste has become a big challenge that we realize. In addition, SC Johnson, one of the researchers and Buck’s Official Disinfectant and Commercial Cleaning Partner, play a part in solutions to this global problem. Their partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks helps to create recycling infrastructure.
To making plastic reuse, it is converted into different materials after manufacturing. Among these, the blue drum is one of the outcomes people need to solve several tasks. We usually see blue drums in many places like on the side of the road, in refuse yards, nearby garages, and so on. It is used as a rain barrel to hold rainwater. It has many more uses, including floating dock, poly drums that are the internationally approved container, food storage, and different container types. Some dealers all over the world make these food-grade barrels available to customers in different regions.
As the awareness of plastics and recycling has increased, so has the demand for plastic and recycling materials. Gravity uses a vast network to change the color of plastics and colors to avoid pollution in the process of recycling plastics.
Pros
➢ Reduces waste of plastic
➢ Enhances plastic’s recovery
➢ Production stays active by increasing plastic recycling
➢ It makes the technical method useful
➢ Contributes to economic technology
Cons
➢ Increases pollution in nature
To sum up, we should increase awareness in plastic reuse that will bring plastic recycling.
Ending the Cycle of Confusion: Learning Which Plastics Can (and Cannot) Be Recycled
Let’s start with what we know: We have a plastic problem of global proportions.
In 2020, it was determined that only about 9 percent of all plastic ever made has been Tekopapergroup—a number that’s horrified scientists, and anyone else who has been watching the drama of plastic waste play out on our environment.
It’s the kind of staggering statistic that encourages one to prioritize plastic recycling in order to boost the percentage for the future of the planet.
But recycling plastic is not as cut-and-dried a solution as it may seem. There are many reasons plastic doesn’t get recycled, from market-driven ones (one study2 found that it’s often not profitable enough to make new products from used plastic) to consumer-driven rationales (for example, not knowing which recycling bin is the right one for a used container).
Plastic Priorities: Which is Which?
Regardless of the reason, education is one of the keys to making any desired change. Understanding and learning to identify different types and classifications of plastics used in everyday items, along with which are appropriate for recycling, is a starting point.
We’ve written in depth about the state of plastic recycling, here and abroad. Perhaps you’ve personalized the problem and wondered which types of plastics you can recycle at home and at your place of business. Today, we’re here with our definitive guide to plastics recycling.
All plastics have one of seven codes stamped somewhere: three consecutive arrows in a triangular-shaped symbol, with a number at the center (used to identify the type of plastic used) and two to five letters beneath (the classification).
First, let’s look at the types of plastics that can be recycled:
#1: PET (Polyethylene Terphthalate)
- Types of products: Mostly water bottles and soda bottles
- How much is currently recycled in the U.S.: 25%
- Recycled into: Bottles, fiber for clothing, and carpets
#2: HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
- Types of products: Milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, some plastic bags and toys
- How much is currently recycled in the U.S.: 30-35%
- Recycled into: Park benches, picnic tables, wastebaskets, and other durable products
These plastic classifications can be recycled, but only in some locations:
#3: LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene)
- Types of products: Grocery and bread bags, squeeze bottles, garment bags, shrink wrap
- Why it’s not commonly recycled: Many municipalities or recycling programs aren’t equipped to handle LDPE.
- Recycled into: Floor tiles, plastic lumber, garbage can liners
#4: PP (Polypropylene)
- Types of products: Plastic bags in cereal boxes, yogurt containers, packing tape, straws, plastic bottle tops
- Why it’s not commonly recycled: While it’s becoming more common to recycle PP, it’s still not widely accepted by many recycling programs.
- Recycled into: Brooms, bins, trays
#5: PS (Polystyrene)
- Types of products: Clamshell food containers, styrofoam cups, egg cartons, foam peanuts, plastic utensils
- Why it’s not commonly recycled: There’s not much market for it, so most winds up in landfills.
These plastic classifications are not recyclable:
#6: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
- Types of products: Cooking oil bottles, plastic food wrap, toys, blister packaging, as well as window frames, garden hoses and other outdoor items
- Why it can’t be recycled: PVC leaches numerous toxins throughout its life cycle.
#7: Other (BPA, Polycarbonate and LEXAN)
- Types of products: Food containers, baby bottles, plastic cups, car parts
- Why it can’t be recycled: BPA has the potential to leach into food and drink. If coded PLA, it’s a polycarbonate-replacement that’s compostable and should be tossed into the compost pile rather than recycled.
At Recycle 1, we want to be part of the solution—not just in our homes and individual lives, but by helping businesses convert to zero waste where possible. Our plastic extrusion machine is just one way we’re doing that. It allows us to process many types of scrap plastic into a usable, raw material rather than sending it overseas. If you need help creating a plastic or recycling strategy for your business, contact us to learn more.
