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Plastic products are ubiquitous all over the world. As dependence on these lightweight and durable products increases, so does the need for global innovation in recycling technologies. Over the decades, recycling companies have developed a variety of processes to turn discarded plastics into hundreds of products, from brushes to carpets and pillows, boat hulls and railway sleepers.
By calling the consumer
The biggest challenge for recycling producers is education and public involvement. About 75 percent of Americans recycle newspapers and cardboard, while just over 25 percent recycle plastic. Industry analysts believe this low response rate may be due to a lack of understanding of the code on recyclable plastics – a small triangle with a number in the center – that identifies the type of plastic.
The most frequently recycled plastics from the seven groups of polymers are PET 01, used in beverage bottles and smaller jars; PE-HD 02, a harder and more durable plastic used in milk bottles and large garbage bags; PE-LD 04, which is tough yet flexible and used in frozen food bags, flexible container lids and squeeze bottles.
While the recycling rate for these and other products is not yet impressive, the numbers have been rising steadily since 1990. In 2006, approximately 2.2 billion pounds of PET plastic bottles and 928 million pounds of HDPE (high-density polyethylene) containers were recycled. for recyclers.
Innovative PET production
As awareness of the environmental damage caused by polymers has increased, so has the urgent need to encourage recycling. Processing and application experiments were increasing at the same time. For example, according to a CNN report, a PhD student. in India, Dr. S. Madhu used crushed and melted plastic in a road surface mixture. Working for the Kerala Highway Research Institute, Madhu mixed plastic with aggregate and bitumen to create a surface that can withstand the blows of the annual monsoons.
Working in a tightly regulated environment, conventional recycling manufacturers focus on creating a long list of popular products. Although the processes are different, they generally follow a common methodology. First, the plastics are sorted by PET identification number. This is often done before the recycled products go to the manufacturer. Labels, glue and other residues are also cleaned of “dirty” PET containers. The dirty PET regrind is then sent to re-claimers who process the material into a form that can be used by manufacturers. Recycling companies additionally clean materials from contaminants and materials that are lighter than plastic. The final PET flakes are washed with a special detergent that removes adhesives, food and dirt.
The PET materials are then further processed in processes that separate the heavier PET particles from the lighter ones – this is called the float-sink stage. The plastics are then dried and ready to become new products in the hands of manufacturers around the world.
However, new methods of recycling PET products are constantly being developed, including a depolymerization process that “reverses” the chemical process used to make the polymer. There are pilot projects using this method, as well as other innovative processes aimed at making plastic recycling more environmentally friendly and economical.
Demand for recycled products
The importance of recycling PET and HDPE cannot be ignored. The latter, heavier PET is used to produce building materials that become home terraces, which are more durable than wood; they become garden furniture, litter bins, office products, buckets, safety cones and much more. HDPE can also be used to make tanks for storing ground and underground water that can withstand decades of use.
Of the five main classes of PET plastics, the most advanced application is the production of new PET bottles and containers. Other occupations include plastic films or plastics used to form small items such as laundry detergent scoops; strapping materials for packaging and transport; resins used in molds for automotive parts; and the fiber material for carpets, fabrics and fiber fillings.
Recycled PET can appear in unexpected places such as business cards, sleeping bags, baseball caps, and a welcome mat at the front door.
In the hands of the consumer
Ultimately, it all depends on the consumer. Awareness of the environmental benefits of recycling plastics and the profitability of producing recycled PET can mitigate environmental damage and support a global industry that returns economic and useful products to the market.
In the US, many municipalities have made it easier for consumers to recycle plastic. Cities accept all plastic products with the recycling symbol and sort them by themselves before sending for further processing. The consumer does not have to deal with separating PET numbers or peeling labels. Many states have enacted laws commonly known as “bottle bills” that charge a small fee for plastic containers. Recycling has more value for the consumer when there is an incentive to buyback value. Some communities have “dump” recycling centers, while others have “take back” centers that pay consumers for recyclable materials.
Regardless of the recycling method or process that restores value from discarded PET products, it is clear that society, governments and industry all share financial and environmental contributions to the practice of recycling plastics.
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Source by Kadence Buchanan