Plastic Recycling Process
Plastic recycling is a complex but crucial process. Plastic recycling reverts plastic items back into their original state for reintegration into a new product. This process prevents the plastic from sitting in landfill for thousands of years or finding its way into the ocean where it can harm marine life. In this article, we’re going to detail the plastic recycling process from beginning to end.
1) Collection
The first stage of the recycling process is the collection of the plastic itself. This can be achieved in a variety of different ways, including collection from your household recycling bin or from a local plastic waste collection point. In the UK, local councils have different rules regarding how plastic should be recycled. Some state that you can throw your recyclable plastic in your standard household recycling bin with the rest of your recyclable materials. Others state that you must collect your recyclable plastic in a separate bin for collection. Check with your local council to find out which rules apply to you.
2) Sorting
It is critical to sort plastic by type to ensure it undergoes the correct recycling process. Special machines are used to sort the plastic according to their resin content.
3) Washing
The next stage is the washing. The plastic is washed with a special detergent that removes impurities such as labels, adhesives and food residue. This prevents contamination and enhances the quality of the final product.
4) Shredding
Once the plastic has been sorted and cleaned, it is loaded onto a conveyor belt where it is sent through a series of different shredders. These shredders tear the plastic up into tiny pieces to prepare them for the melting stage. Further sorting is undertaken at this point; heavier shreds are separated from lighter shreds and metal detectors and magnets are used to remove any leftover non-plastic material in the mixture.
5) Extruding
Next, the plastic is melted in preparation for moulding. The small shreds of plastic can be melted relatively easily, using a special machine that heats the plastic to a hot enough temperature so that it melts the plastic without destroying it.
6) Compounding
The melted plastic is compounded into pellets, known as ‘nurdles’. These pellets are then sold and transported to plastic manufacturing companies to reuse into new products.
Envirocraft provide a specialist plastic recycling service for customers nationwide. Operating from a number of hubs across the country, we use our years of experience to deliver accredited plastic recycling services that significantly reduce the amount of plastic in landfills. We’re so committed to helping this cause that we work for businesses of any size, to help reduce plastic waste from the workplace. For the collection and recycling of all your plastics, get in touch with us today.