Maya Ellison
Plastic is one of the most popular and useful materials of modern times, with 300 million tonnes produced worldwide each year. Despite its prevalence, plastic is rarely recycled and is not designed to be recycled. However, recycling plastic is essential to conserve natural resources, save energy, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The process of recycling plastic involves collecting, sorting, cleaning, and melting plastic before moulding it into new products. The collection of plastic is the first step in the recycling process, with recyclers gathering plastic waste from homes, offices, and public places, and sending it to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) or Plastic Recovery Facilities (PRFs). The plastic is then sorted by type, cleaned, and shredded before being melted and moulded into new products.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Collection | Plastic is collected from homes, businesses, and local recycling centres. |
| Sorting | Plastic is sorted by type, using equipment such as optical sorters and sink/float separators. |
| Cleaning | Plastic is washed to remove contaminants such as adhesives, residual waste, food waste, and labels. |
| Shredding | Plastic is shredded into smaller pieces or flakes. |
| Melting | The shredded plastic is melted and processed into pellets or crude oil. |
| Moulding | The melted plastic is moulded into new products through a process called injection moulding. |
| Collaboration | Product companies, retailers, and plastic material makers must collaborate to design products that are accepted into consumer collection programs. |
| Incentives | Incentivizing people to participate in waste collection programs is essential to creating a circular economy. |
| Limitations | Plastic is not designed to be recycled and is rarely recycled. Recycling plastic can be confusing for consumers. |
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What You'll Learn
The importance of rinsing plastic before recycling
Plastic is one of the most popular and useful materials of modern times. Recycling and reusing plastic items as many times as possible can reduce the need to create new plastic. However, plastic is rarely recycled and if it is, it loses quality.
The process of recycling plastic involves several steps and organisations to ensure that the plastic is transformed into new products. The first step is the collection of plastic, which is key to the recycling system operating well. The more plastic that is collected, the more material is available to be reprocessed and used to make new products. Plastic is collected from homes, businesses, and local recycling centres and sent to Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) and Plastic Recovery Facilities (PRF) to be sorted by type.
Furthermore, if you live in an area with single-stream recycling, where all recyclable materials are put into one bin, rinsing your plastic containers is crucial. This is because if the containers haven't been rinsed, they are likely to create a mess when they are sorted at the recycling facility. In addition, liquids and grease can ruin paper and cardboard recycling. For example, a half-filled bottle of soda can ruin an entire load of paper. Therefore, it is important to remove liquids from containers before recycling them, especially if you have single-stream recycling in your area.
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How to recycle plastic at home
Recycling plastic at home can be done in a few ways. Firstly, it is important to understand the types of plastic that can be recycled. Plastic bottles are the most commonly recycled items, and 99% of UK local authorities offer collection facilities for plastic bottles. These bottles are usually made from two types of plastic that are easy to recycle: PET and HDPE. Other common types of plastic that can be recycled include PP, which is used for items such as milk cartons, yoghurt pots, and takeaway trays.
Before placing plastic items in your recycling bin, it is helpful to rinse them quickly to remove food or other materials. This simple step can make a big difference in ensuring the recycling system operates more effectively. It is also important to remove labels and tops from plastic containers, as this can aid the recycling process.
Some local authorities may require residents to sort their plastic waste by type. It is advisable to check with your local authority or use online tools to determine which types of plastic they collect. For example, some authorities may collect a wider range of plastic bags and wrappings, also known as soft plastics. Hard-to-recycle items that are often left out of household recycling include salad bags, plastic film, and polystyrene.
For those interested in taking their plastic recycling efforts a step further, there are now technologies available that allow people to recycle plastic waste at home and create new products through 3D printing. This approach is known as distributed recycling and additive manufacturing (DRAM). With DRAM, individuals can sort, wash, and then convert their plastic waste into 3D printer filament using a recyclebot. This filament can then be used to create new products, such as decorations, home and garden products, toys, and gadgets. While this technology is not yet mainstream, it shows promise in providing a path towards a more circular economy.
It is worth noting that some types of plastic are marked as compostable, but these should not be included in your dry recycling collection as they cannot be recycled in the same way as non-biodegradable plastic. Additionally, melting and molding plastic at home is possible but may produce toxic fumes, so it is important to take the necessary precautions if attempting this method.
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The different types of plastic
Plastic is one of the most versatile materials in modern times, with a wide range of applications. However, plastic waste is a significant environmental concern, leading to polluted oceans, overfilled landfills, and ecological damage. Therefore, recycling plastic is critical to improving the environment and promoting sustainable waste management practices.
There are seven different types of plastic commonly used worldwide, each with unique characteristics and recyclability. The seven types of plastic are categorized by resin codes, with numbers ranging from 1 to 7, and each type has specific properties and applications.
Type 1 plastic, also known as PET or PETE, is a clear material used for beverage bottles, cooking oil containers, and food packaging. It is relatively easy to recycle, and some countries have achieved recycling rates above 50%. Type 2 plastic, or HDPE, is opaque and used for more rigid containers like milk jugs and detergent bottles. This type of plastic is also commonly recycled through downcycling, where it is reused to create lower-value products like plastic lumber and benches.
Type 3 plastic, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), is not typically recyclable in standard collections. It is a soft and flexible plastic used for various household products. Type 4 plastic, or low-density polyethylene (LDPE), is used for plastic bags, which can be recycled but often aren't due to the risk of tangling in recycling machinery.
Type 5 plastic, PP or polypropylene, is one of the most popular packaging materials globally. However, only a small percentage of PP is recycled, with most ending up in landfills, taking 20-30 years to decompose. Type 6 plastic, or polystyrene (PS), is commonly used for disposable coffee cups, packing peanuts, and food containers. While it can sometimes be recycled, it often requires specialized handling, making it challenging for recycling companies to process.
Finally, Type 7 plastic is a catch-all category for products made from multiple plastic types or other hard-to-recycle plastics. Despite the challenges and complexities of plastic recycling, it remains an essential step in reducing environmental harm and promoting sustainability.
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The recycling process
The second stage is sorting plastic from other materials, which is done at a Material Recovery Facility (MRF). This facility uses sorting equipment such as an optical sorter or sink/float separator to distinguish between different types of plastics and separate them by thickness, colour, size, and plastic type. The plastic may also be put through magnets to remove any metals. The plastic is then washed to remove adhesives, residual waste, food waste, and labels to ensure that the material is as clean as possible as it can affect the quality of the recyclate.
After sorting and cleaning, the plastic is then shredded into smaller pieces or flakes and may be melt-processed to form pellets. Finally, the plastic is moulded into new products through a process called injection moulding. Advanced recycling methods may also be used, such as pyrolysis, chemical recycling, and gasification, which involve breaking down plastic material through the use of chemicals.
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The benefits of recycling plastic
Recycling plastic is beneficial for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to conserve natural resources by reducing the need to extract new resources such as timber, water, and minerals for creating new products. For example, recycling just 10 plastic bottles saves enough energy to power a laptop for more than 25 hours. Recycling one ton of plastic saves 5,774 kWh of energy, which is enough to charge a Tesla battery over 100 times.
Secondly, recycling plastic reduces waste and pollution by diverting it from landfills and incinerators, thereby minimising the harmful effects of emissions and pollution. This includes reducing the amount of plastic in our streets, parks, and oceans, which is beneficial for wildlife and the environment. Recycling plastic also helps to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, such as oil, which is a key ingredient in creating new plastic products. For instance, 16.3 barrels of oil are saved every time one ton of plastic is recycled.
Thirdly, recycling plastic contributes to a circular economy, which aims to eliminate waste by keeping resources in use for as long as possible. By transforming plastic into valuable resources, we can minimise pollution and build a more sustainable future. Recycling plastic also increases the availability of recycled plastic, allowing more businesses to incorporate it into their products, reducing their environmental footprint, and empowering consumers to make more sustainable choices.
Lastly, using recycled plastic in product packaging can benefit businesses financially and help them comply with legal measures and regulations. It can also create positive social change by improving the lives of marginalised communities. For example, in India, partnering with organisations that provide a reliable supply of recycled plastic helps lift waste collectors out of poverty.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step in recycling plastic is collecting plastic waste from homes, businesses, and public places.
The collected plastic is sent to Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) to separate plastic from non-plastic materials. The plastic is then sent to Plastic Recovery Facilities (PRF) to be sorted into different types of plastic.
The plastic is then washed, shredded, and sorted further to ensure any remaining contaminants are removed.
The final step involves melting the plastic and processing it into new products through a method called injection moulding.
