How Is Plastic Recycled?

Want to learn how plastic is recycled? In this helpful guide, we provide a complete breakdown of recycled plastics, offering expert analysis of how the process is carried out and how the recycled plastic is used in the future.



Recycling Plastic | The Process

Recycling plastic is considered a relatively straightforward, three-step process. Collection, separation/sorting and reprocessing. Below, we take a closer look at the process of recycling plastic.

Collection

The first stage of the recycling process is simple, after all, how can we recycle before we have collected the materials? Plastics that are ready to be recycled will be collected by a local authority at our home or place of business, and then transported to a Material Recovery Facility and/or a Plastic Recovery Facility in preparation for sorting.

Separation

Next, plastics are separated and sorted by their polymer type, to an even greater degree, and mechanically placed onto conveyor belts. These conveyor belts are used specifically to maintain the flow of waste through the sorting facility, where materials are sorted by hand and by mechanical devices or machinery that help remove waste with technology.

Reprocessing

Now your plastic has been collected, processed and sorted by type, the final stage of the process is reprocessing. This directly involves transforming the original plastic into new plastic pellets that can be made into renewed recycled plastics. This will typically involve the washing, melting and shredding of the original plastics before it is moulded into new products further down the line.

How Is Recycled Plastic Used?

After the reprocessing is complete, and the plastic has been washed, shredded and organised, it is then melted down and extruded into new recycled plastic. Recycled plastic is one of the most commonly used recycled materials the world over and can be made into a wide range of products. Recycled plastic is generally used for the following purposes:

●     Drinks Bottles

●     Food Trays

●     Polyester Fabrics

●     Wheelie Bins

●     Food Caddies

●     Refuse Sacks

●     Carrier Bags

●     Composters

●     Wheel Arch Liners/Car Bumpers

●     Damp-Proof Membranes

●     Reusable Crates & Pallets

●     Flower Pots/Seed Trays

●     Watering Cans/Water Butts

Recycled plastic has a long list of important uses, helping to reduce our landfill waste and the overall impact on our natural environment. Due to its versatility, plastic is a material we use almost constantly, producing 300 million tonnes of the material every year across the World, and, for this reason, the need to reuse and recycle plastic has never been simpler or more significant. Recycling plastic helps conserve non-renewable fossil fuels, reduce our energy consumption/emissions, and shrink our landfill waste significantly.

If you’re looking for a greener waste disposal service, you can look no further than the experts at Henry Waste, Skip Hire and House Clearance. Based in Coatbridge, our dedicated team work tirelessly at our recycling centre, taking great care to separate all the rubbish we receive and ensure all materials can be recycled. we’ll ensure all your rubbish is carefully separated and recycled where possible, for your peace of mind. Contact us today.