How To Recycle Plastic
It would be difficult to believe if an average person walked up to you and said they’ve never used plastic. It’s almost inevitable. From the cup of coffee that you order every morning to the straw you use, your grocery bags, water, and drink bottles, it’s quite possible that you use plastic daily. Often, they end up in the environment and can have harmful effects on the environment.
Mass production of plastic began only a bit over six decades ago, and yet, by 2015, just over a century after the invention of the first synthetic plastic, the world had produced over 8.6 billion tons of plastic, 6.3 billion of which ended up as waste. Of this plastic waste, only 9% make it to recycling. 12% is incinerated, and the remaining 79% end up as junk in landfills or the soil, or even in the ocean, constituting a hazard to the environment and wildlife. Considering the possible dangers of plastic filling our lands and oceans, it’s important to commit to recycling plastic.
Why Dimension Takes Plastic Waste Solutions Seriously
- Urgent need: 2.5 million plastic bottles are thrown away in America alone every hour.
- Huge benefits: If you recycle one ton of plastic bottles, you save the equivalent energy usage of a two-person household for a year.
- Easy gains: When recycled, five plastic bottles provide enough fibre to fill one ski jacket. Plastic recycling also directly pays your business.
There are many other benefits of plastic recycling. Apart from freeing up landfill space, it reduces land and water pollution and release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributes to the prevention of global warming, and saves energy. Intensified plastic recycling is one way to ensure sustainable living and global economic development. In another article, we discuss the impact of plastic pollution on the environment and how to make necessary changes.
Plastic You can Recycle
Interestingly, most plastic materials can be recycled. From thermoplastics (PET), PVC, and Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to high-density polyethylene (HDPE), PP, and PS polymers. However, not all plastic can be recycled. Some recycling companies will reject LDPE and PP plastics. Thermoset polymers also have crosslinks whose chemical bonds are nonreversible. Therefore, thermoset plastic can’t be remolded into new materials.
Due to the type of plastics they contain, plastic bags, straws, coffee cups, plastic hangers, and plastic toys can’t be recycled. Also, you shouldn’t put dirty plastic in the recycle bin. You should wash them before putting them in the recycle bin.
Recycling Methods for Plastic
There are several ways by which plastic can be recycled. In the traditional method, the plastic is simply melted and molded into new plastic in a process called injection molding. Thermoplastics may be treated this way.
However, in advanced methods of recycling plastics, the material is broken down using chemicals. This can be done with various processes such as pyrolysis, gasification, and chemical recycling, depending on the intended final result.
How Recycled plastic is Treated at The Recycling Facility
Step 1: Collection and Transportation
First, the waste disposal service collects all the recyclable plastic waste from homes, offices, or businesses. The collected plastic waste is transported to the recycling facility, where they’re recycled. Dimension can help collect your plastic waste and transport it to a waste recycling facility.
Step 2: Sorting
The plastic waste collected is then sorted into categories. The sorting is done based on the properties of the plastic, such as color, resin content, thickness, and use.
Step 3: Purification
If necessary, the plastic may be washed to remove all paper labels, glue, duct tape, dirt such as oil, food materials, and other unwanted substances.
Step 4: Shredding
Once purified of unwanted substances that may affect the quality of the finished product, the plastic is then shredded into tiny pieces, which is easier to process.
Step 5: Particle Testing and Separation
Once shredded, they are tested based on several factors such as density, air classification, color, and melting point. This is to identify and separate the several plastic materials that make it to the shredded bulk and determine the quality and class of the plastic. They are then separated for further processing.
Step 6: Compounding
The plastic materials may be pounded, smashed, and melted to make pellets. The plastic may also be transported to facilities that further recycle them into specific products depending on the tested qualities.
To dispose of your plastic waste, you may need to use a professional disposal service.
Hiring a Trash Removal and Disposal Professional
You know it, we know it: plastic is everywhere and in everything. There has never been a more important time to step up and ensure that you are recycling this material properly. It’s not just the environment that will benefit either; plastic recycling will profit your business. Did you know that thousands of companies waste money by mismanaging their plastic waste?
If you’re not ready to deal with the stress of recycling and repurposing yourself and still want to dispose of your plastic waste responsibly, hire a professional waste disposal service and let them handle it. Some waste disposal services may offer this service for a price. Google “Plastic Waste Disposal Services Near Me” and find some suggestions.
Dimension can help you out here! Not sure how to dispose of your old paper stacks? Give us a call, and we’ll get to it!
Allow your brand identity to be synonymous with sustainable practices and environmentally friendly plastic waste management. While you enjoy a sustainable brand identity, we’ll set out a plan that closely monitors market values and works with local vendors to ensure that you get the best price for your plastics.
We are a team of professionals, and we preach responsibility and compliance in waste disposal. We know how best to handle your paper and make sure it is disposed of and recycled sustainably.
What’s more? We don’t only handle plastic disposal; we can help with other items you don’t need, including mattress disposal, couch disposal, furniture removal, cardboard recycling, appliance disposal, etc. And unlike most waste disposal/ junk removal companies, we are very affordable.