With so much focus now on plastic recycling, it’s interesting to learn more about the processes involved, especially as technology continues to refine the approaches taken.
Firstly, it’s worth noting that the ‘obvious’ type of plastic recycling that we think of – diverting consumer waste from landfill – is just one approach. For example, in an earlier blog, we looked at how manufacturing businesses recycle their plastic waste by channeling plastic regrinds (waste products such as bottle lids) back into their manufacturing process so that these waste parts can be used once again rather than disposed of.
When it comes to more familiar types of plastic – wrap, bags, packaging, and so forth – the recycling approach depends on the polymer in question. For example:
1. Plastic Bottles
Plastic bottles are the most commonly recycled type of plastic, as they are easy to sort and there is a ready market for the product. Most plastic bottles are made from HDPE or PET. Public recycling facilities can easily sort bottles by relevant polymer type, for example, milk bottles, ketchup bottles, large squash bottles, fizzy drink bottles, and so forth.
2. Tubs, Trays and Pots
Most councils now allow residents to put their tubs, plastic pots, and trays in their recycling bins, including yogurt pots, which are increasingly made from PET recyclable materials.
3. Black Food Trays
These currently aren’t collected for recycling and tend to be rejected at sorting plants. There are trials in place to see where different polymers could be used in manufacturing, which will be suitable for recycling, whilst retaining the black color.
4. Plastic Bags and Cling Film
The majority of this waste is generated by businesses, such as those which use stretch wrap for pallets. Some supermarkets are now recycling carrier bags and others are trialing the use of biodegradable bags which will no longer pose the same problem to the environment. It’s worth noting that it is technically feasible to recycle nearly all plastic polymers. However, it only tends to happen where markets exist for recycled and reprocessed materials and where the process of recycling is cost-effective.
How Does Plastic Get Recycled - The Process
Once the materials for recycling have been gathered, they can be washed, ground into a powder form, and then melted, a process known as mechanical recycling. Alternatively, chemicals are applied to break the plastics into their constituent components; this process is known as advanced recycling. Depending on the needs of the end customer, some plastics will be sorted into colors to produce a consistent end product.
How Can Plastic be Recycled: The Challenges
Dirty and food-contaminated plastics are invariably rejected, as are multi-polymer containers. Certain plastics, such as cling film are also rejected because they become tangled in the processing machines and tend to be heavily contaminated. Sometimes, contaminated plastics can be recycled into low-grade, dark color items such as heavy bin bags. It’s worth noting that there is a thriving private economy around plastics recycling, with the materials turning up in everything from tote bags and clothing, to yoga mats, and more. Public appetite for plastic usage reduction and recycling is high and the technologies are constantly improving, ensuring that the future is bright for the environment.
Learn more about how to sell your plastic scrap to a Berry Plastic Recycling Facility.