Wikipedia Plastic Recycling

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Plastic recyclingFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Plastic recyclingis the process of recovering scrap or waste plasticand reprocessing the

material into useful products, sometimes completely different in form from their original state. For

instance, this could mean melting down soft drinkbottles and then casting them as plastic chairs

and tables. Plastic 'recycling' is largely a misnomer since plastic beverage bottles (soda, juice,

milk) are never reformed into new beverage bottles; this requires virgin plastic. There simply is nocycle involved with the "recycling" of plastic beverage containers.

Plastics are also recycled during the manufacturing process of plastic goods such as polyethylene

film and bags. A percentage of the recycled pellets are then re-introduced into the main production

operation. This closed-loop operation has taken place since the 1970s and has made the

production of some plastic products amongst the most efficient operations today.

Contents [hide]

1 Challenges

2 Processes

2.1 Thermal depolymerization

2.2Heat compression

2.3Other processes

3 A licat ions

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material, meaning that polymer blendsare useful in only limited applications.

Another barrier to recycling is the widespread use of dyes, fillers, and other additives in plastics.

The polymer is generally too viscousto economically remove fillers, and would be damaged by

many of the processes that could cheaply remove the added dyes. Additives are less widely used

in beverage containers and plastic bags, allowing them to be recycled more often. Yet another

barrier to removing large quantities of plastic from the waste stream and landfills is the fact thatmany common but small plastic items lack the universal triangle recycling symbol and

accompanying number. An example is the billions of plastic utensils commonly distributed at fast

food restaurants or sold for use at picnics.[citation needed]

The use of biodegradable plasticsis increasing.[1]

Processes[edit]

Before recycling, most plastics are sorted according to their resin type. In the past, plastic

reclaimers used the resin identification code(RIC), a method of categorization of polymer types,

which was developed by the Society of the Plastics Industryin 1988. Polyethylene terephthalate,

commonly referred to as PET, for instance, has a resin code of 1. Most plastic reclaimers do not

rely on the RIC now; they use automatic sort systems to identify the resin, such as near infrared

(NIR) technology. Some plastic products are also separated by color before they are recycled. The

plastic recyclables are then shredded. These shredded fragments then undergo processes to

eliminate impurities like paper labels. This material is melted and often extrudedinto the form of

pellets which are then used to manufacture other products.

Thermal depolymerization [edit]

Main article: Depolymerization
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Main article: Thermal depolymerization

Another process involves the conversion of assorted polymers into petroleumby a much less

precise thermal depolymerizationprocess. Such a process would be able to accept almost any

polymer or mix of polymers, including thermosetmaterials such as vulcanized rubbertire

superation of wastes and the biopolymers in feathersand other agricultural waste. Like natural

petroleum, the chemicals produced can be made into fuels as well as polymers. A pilot plant of this

type exists in Carthage, Missouri, United States, using turkey waste as input material. Gasification

is a similar process, but is not technically recycling, since polymers are not likely to become the

result.

Heat compression [edit]

Yet another process that is gaining ground with startup companies (especially in Australia, United

Statesand Japan) is heat compression.[citation needed]The heat compression process takes allunsorted, cleaned plastic in all forms, from soft plastic bags to hard industrial waste, and mixes the

load in tumblers (large rotating drums resembling giant clothes dryers). The most obvious benefit

to this method is the fact that all plastic is recyclable, not just matching forms. However, criticism

rises from the energy costs of rotating the drums, and heating the post-melt pipes.

Other processes [edit]

A process has also been developed in which many kinds of plastic can be used as a carbon

source in the recycling of scrap steel.[2]

Applications [edit]

PET [edit]
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Bales of PET bottles to be recycled.

Main article: PET bottle recycling

Post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET or

PETE) containers are sorted into different colour

fractions, and baled for onward sale. PET recyclers

further sort the baled bottles and they are washed

and flaked (or flaked and then washed). Non-PET

fractions such as caps and labels are removed during

this process. The clean flake is dried. Further

treatment can take place e.g. melt filtering and

pelletising or various treatments to produce food-

contact-approved recycled PET (RPET).

RPET has been widely used to produce polyester

fibres.[3]This sorted post-consumer PET waste is crushed, chopped into flakes, pressed intobales, and offered for sale.[4]

One use for this recycled PET that has recently started to become popular is to create fabrics to

be used in the clothing industry.[5]The fabrics are created by spinning the PET flakes into thread

and yarn.[4]This is done just as easily as creating polyester from brand new PET.[6]The recycled

PET thread or yarn can be used either alone or together with other fibers to create a very wide

variety of fabrics. Traditionally these fabrics are used to create strong, durable, rough, products,such as jackets, coat, shoes, bags, hats, and accessories since they are usually too rough for

direct skin contact and can cause irritation.[7]However, these types of fabrics have become more

popular as a result of the public's growing awareness of environmental issues. Numerous fabric

and clothing manufacturers have capitalized on this trend.

Other major outlets for RPET are new containers (food-contact or non-food-contact) produced
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PVC SPI

code, for

recycling (Society

of the Plastics

Industry). The

Unicode

character for this

symbol is

U+2675.

either by (injection stretch blow) moulding into bottles and jars or by thermoforming APET sheet to

produce clam shells, blister packs and collation trays. These applications used 46% of all RPET

produced in Europe in 2010.[citation needed]Other applications, such as strapping tape, injection-

moulded engineering components and even building materials account for 13% of the 2010 RPET

production.[citation needed]

PVC [edit]

Collection and recycling schemes for the PVC waste stream are managed

through Recovinyl[8]in Europe which reported the recycled tonnage as

follows: profile 107,000 tonnes; flexible cables 79,000 tonnes; pipe 25,000

tonnes; rigid film 6,000 tonnes; and mixed flexible 38,000 tonnes. Recovinyl

states that of the recycled material, 75% is for floors, 15% for foils, 5% for

traffic cones, 3% for hoses and 2% for other applications.

One of the recycling processes is the VinyloopTexyloop[9]used for solvent-

based mechanical recycling. It involves recovering PVC plastic from composite

materials through dissolution and precipitation, and is a closed-loop system,

recycling the solvent and regenerating PVC. It offers a major ecological

benefit, as Vinyloop-based recycled PVC's primary energy demand is 46%

lower than conventional produced PVC. The global warming potential of

recycled PVC is 39% lower, a significant reduction in the ecological footprint.[10]

HDPE [edit]

The most recycled plastic, HDPE(high-density polyethylene) or number 2, is downcycledinto

plastic lumber, tables, roadside curbs, benches, truck cargo liners, trash receptacles, stationery
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been either landfilled or burned on-site in the fields of individual farms.[16]

CNNreports that Dr. S. Madhu of the KeralaHighway Research Institute, India, has formulated a

road surface that includes recycled plastic: aggregate, bitumen(asphalt) with plastic that has been

shredded and melted at a temperature below 220 degrees C (428 F) to avoid pollution. This road

surface is claimed to be very durable and monsoon rain resistant. The plastic is sorted by hand,

which is economical in India. The test road used 60 kg of plastic for an approximately 500m-long,8m-wide, two-lane road. The process chops thin-film road-waste into a light fluff of tiny flakes that

hot-mix plants can uniformly introduce into viscous bitumen with a customized dosing machine.

Tests at both Bangalore and the Indian Road Research Centre indicate that roads built using this

'KK process' will have longer useful lives and better resistance to cold, heat, cracking, and rutting,

by a factor of three.[17]

Recycling rates [edit]

The quantity of post-consumer plastics recycled has increased every year since at least 1990, but

rates lag far behind those of other items, such as newspaper (about 80%) and corrugated

fiberboard(about 70%).[18]Overall, U.S. post-consumer plastic waste for 2008 was estimated at

33.6 million tons; 2.2 million tons (6.5%) were recycled and 2.6 million tons (7.7%) were burned for

energy; 28.9 million tons, or 85.5%, were discarded in landfills.[19]

Economic and energy potential [edit]

In 2008, the price of PET dropped from $370/ton in the US to $20 in November. [20]PET prices had

returned to their long term averages by May 2009.[21]There has been an increase in the use of

plastics over the past few decades. This increase in use has dried up various exhaustible

resources and caused a threat to the environment. Plastic is a unique material to be used in a
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broad range of products again and again. Plastics use oil and energy during its manufacturing.

Nearly 4% of oil in the world is used to manufacture plastic. Though this amount is not very large,

recycling plastic will save this extinguishable energy source.[22]

Consumer education [edit]

United States [edit]

Low national plastic recycling rates have been due to the complexity of sorting and processing,

unfavorable economics, and consumer confusion about which plastics can actually be recycled.[23]

Part of the confusion has been due to the use of the resin identification codewhich is not on all

plastic parts but just a subset [24]that includes the recycling symbolas part of its design. The resin

identification codeis stamped or printed on the bottom of containers and surrounded by a triangle

of arrows. (See the table in Plastic.) The intent of these symbols was to make it easier to identifythe type of plastics used to make a particular container and to indicate that the plastic is potentially

recyclable. The question that remains is which types of plastics can be recycled by your local

recycling center. In many communities, not all types of plastics are accepted for sidewalk recycling

collection programs due to the high processing costs and complexity of the equipment required to

recycle certain materials. There is also sometimes a seemingly low demand for the recycled

product depending on a recycling center's proximity to entities seeking recycled materials. Another

major barrier is that the cost to recycle certain materials and the corresponding market price forthose materials sometimes does not present any opportunity for profit. The best example of this is

regarding polystyrene (commonly called styrofoam), although some communities, like Brookline,

MA, are moving toward banning the distribution of polystyrene containers by local food and coffee

businesses.[25][26]

United Kingdom [edit]
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In the UK, the amount of post-consumer plastic being recycled is relatively low,[27]due in part to a

lack of recycling facilities.

The Plastics 2020 Challengewas founded in 2009 by the plastics industry with the aim of engaging

the British public in a nationwide debate about the use, reuse and disposal of plastics, and hosts a

series of online debates on its website framed around the waste hierarchy.

There is a facility in Worksopcapable of recycling 60 - 80 thousand metric tonnes a year.[28]

In N.Ireland, the rate of recycling is relatively low at only 37.4%. However, emerging technologies

are helping to increase the recycling rates of items previously landfilled e.g. mixed hard plastics.[29]

Plastic identification code [edit]

Main article: Resin identification code

Five groups of plastic polymers,[30]each with specific properties, are used worldwide for packaging

applications (see table below). Each group of plastic polymer can be identified by its Plastic

Identification code (PIC), usually a number or a letter abbreviation. For instance, Low-Density

Polyethylene can be identified by the number "4" or the letters "LDPE". The PIC appears inside a

three-chasing-arrow recycling symbol. The symbol is used to indicate whether the plastic can be

recycled into new products.[citation needed]

The PIC was introduced by the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., to provide a uniform system

for the identification of various polymer types and to help recycling companies separate various

plastics for reprocessing. Manufacturers of plastic products are required to use PIC labels in some

countries/regions and can voluntarily mark their products with the PIC where there are no

requirements.[31]Consumers can identify the plastic types based on the codes usually found at
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the base or at the side of the plastic products, including food/chemical packaging and containers.

The PIC is usually not present on packaging films, since it is not practical to collect and recycle

most of this type of waste.[clarification needed][citation needed]

Plastic

IdentificationCode

Type of

plasticpolymer

Properties

Common

PackagingApplications

Glass

Transition

and MeltingTemperatures

(C)

Young's

Modulus(GPa)

Polyethylene

terephthalate

(PET, PETE)

Clarity,

strength,

toughness,

barrier to

gas and

moisture.

Soft drink, water and

salad dressing

bottles; peanut

butter and jam jars;

small customer

electronics.

Tm = 250;[32]

Tg = 76[32]2-2.7[33]

High-density

polyethylene

(HDPE)

Stiffness,

strength,

toughness,

resistance

to moisture,

permeability

to gas.

Water pipes, hula

hooprings, five

gallon buckets, milk,

juice and water

bottles; grocerybags, some

shampoo/toiletry

bottles.

Tm = 130;[34]

Tg = -125[35]0.8[33]

Blister packaging for

non-food items;
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Polyvinyl

chloride

(PVC)

Versatility,

ease of

blending,

strength,

toughness.

cling films for non-

food use. May be

used for food

packaging with the

addition of the

plasticisers needed

to make nativelyrigid PVC flexible .

Non-packaging uses

are electrical cable

insulation; rigid

piping; vinyl records.

Tm = 240;[36]

Tg = 85[36]2.4-4.1[37]

Low-density

polyethylene

(LDPE)

Ease of

processing,

strength,

toughness,

flexibility,

ease of

sealing,

barrier tomoisture.

Frozen food bags;

squeezable bottles,

e.g. honey, mustard;

cling films; flexible

container lids.

Tm = 120;[38]

Tg = -125[39]0.17-0.28[37]

Strength,

toughness,

resistance

to heat,

Reusable

microwaveable

ware; kitchenware;

yogurt containers;
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Polypropylene

(PP)

chemicals,

grease and

oil,

versatile,

barrier to

moisture.

margarine tubs;

microwaveable

disposable take-

away containers;

disposable cups;

plates.

Tm = 173;

Tg = -10[40]1.5-2[33]

Polystyrene

(PS)

Versatility,

clarity,

easily

formed

Egg cartons;

packing peanuts;

disposable cups,

plates, trays and

cutlery; disposable

take-away

containers.

Tm = 240 (only

isotactic);[35]

Tg = 100

(atactic and

isotactic)[35]

3-3.5[33]

Other (oftenpolycarbonate

or ABS)

Dependent

on polymersor

combination

of polymers

Beverage bottles;

baby milk bottles.

Non-packaging uses

for polycarbonate:

compact discs;

"unbreakable"

glazing; electronicapparatus housings;

lenses including

sunglasses,

prescription glasses,

automotive

Polycarbonate:Tg = 145;[42]

Tm = 225[43]

Polycarbonate:2.6;[33]ABS

plastics: 2.3[33]

h dl i
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Sustainable development portal

Ecology portal

Environment portal

headlamps, riot

shields, instrument

panels.[41]

See also [edit]

BalerBisphenol_A#Identification_in_plastics, an article on

"BPA", esp. relevant to types 3 & 7 plastics.

Microplastics

Phase-out of lightweight plastic bags

Plastics 2020 Challenge

Post-consumer resin sterilization

Reuse of water bottles

References [edit]

1. ^Hatti-Kaul, Rajni. "Industrial biotechnology for the production of bio-based chemicals a cradle-to-

grave perspective" . Trends in Biotechnology. Lund University. Retrieved 26 August 2012.

2. ^Steel CNN. Retrieved 9.11.06.

3. ^"EcoSpun (Eco-fi) Clothing - Eartheasy.com Solutions for Sustainable Living" . Eartheasy.com.Retrieved 2010-08-21.

4. ^ abIdea TV GmbH. "Recycled plastic - the fashion fabric of the future" . Innovations-report.com.

Retrieved 2010-08-21.

5. ^10:24 AM PT, November 13, 2009 (2009-11-13). "Trashy Chic: Recycled clothing from Playback -

Brand X" . Thisisbrandx.com. Retrieved 2010-08-21.

6 ^ "R ' REWOVEN T h l I f Th E N i R l d PET" R
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6. ^"Reware's REWOVEN Technology Info: The Eco Narrative - Recycled PET" . Rewarestore.com.


7. ^"Billabong ECO Supreme Suede Boardshorts: Sustainable is Good Eco Products" .

Sustainableisgood.com. 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2010-08-21.

8. ^Incentives to collect and recycle . Recovinyl. Retrieved on 2011-10-06.

9. ^Texyloop : recyclage de textiles PVC . Texyloop.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-06.

10. ^Vinyloop White Paper . Retrieved on 2014-01-11.11. ^Polystyrene recycling. Polystyrene packaging council. Retrieved on 2009-03-06.

12. ^"Let Peanuts Live! Mail Boxes Etc. Recycles as Part of National Effort; Recycle Loose-fill, Foam

'Peanuts' At Participating Mail Boxes Etc. Locations" . AllBusiness.com. Retrieved 2010-08-21.

13. ^Plastic trial procedure Oaktech Environmental website. Retrieved 9.11.06.

14. ^Agricultural plastics recycling process Agricultural plastics recycling website. Retrieved

07.11.08.

15. ^Plastic Composite Railroad Tie Facts Plastic Composite Railroad Ties website. Retrieved

01.21.08.

16. ^Recycling Used Agricultural Plastics James W. Garthe, Paula D. Kowal, PennState University,

Agricultural and Biological Engineering

17. ^Patel, Almitra H. (October 2003), Plastics Recycling and The Need For Bio-Polymers 9(4),

EnviroNews Archives

18. ^The Self-Sufficiency Handbook: A Complete Guide to Greener Living by Alan Bridgewater pg. 62--

Skyhorse Publishing Inc., 2007 ISBN 1-60239-163-7, ISBN 978-1-60239-163-5

19. ^" "Energy and Economic Value of Non-recycled Plastics and Municipal Solid Wastes" at

Journalist's Resource.org" .

20. ^Page, Candace, Waste district raises recycling fees, Burlington Free Press, November 12, 2008

21. ^Financial Times, May 15, 2009 (article by Max Hogg)

22. ^http://www.almumayezplastic.com/aboutus

23 ^ W t T (J 2 2007) "Wh t ll th l ti ?" S ttl Ti R t i d
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23. ^Watson, Tom (June 2, 2007). "Where can we put all those plastics?" . Seattle Times. Retrieved

2007-06-02.

24. ^SPI Resin Identification Code - Guide to Correct Use,

http://www.plasticsindustry.org/AboutPlastics/content.cfm?ItemNumber=823

25. ^Where can we put all those plastics? By Tom Watson June 2, 2007 Seattle Times

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2003730398_ecoconsumer02.html

26. ^Brookline Town Meeting bans Styrofoam coffee, takeout containers by Brock Parker Nov 13, 2012Boston.com

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/brookline/2012/11/brookline_town_meeting_bans_st.html

27. ^Plastics wasteonline.org.uk. Retrieved 10.18.07.

28. ^http://www.mbapolymers.com/home/mba-polymers-uk-ltd

29. ^http://www.envirogreenrecycling.com/plastic-recycling

30. ^"Safe Use Of Plastic Food Packaging And Containers" .

31. ^"19". Holt Chemistry (Floridaedition). Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. 2006. p. 702. ISBN0-03-

039114-8. "More than hlf the states in the United States have enacted laws that require plastic

products to be labeled with numerical codes that identify the type of plastic used in them."

32. ^ ab[1] PolymerProcessing.com

33. ^ abcdef[2] The Engineering Toolbox

34. ^[3] Dyna Lab Corp

35. ^ abc[4] Sigma Aldrich


37. ^ abModern Plastics Encyclopedia 1999, p B158 to B216.(Tensile Modulus)

38. ^[6] Dyna Lab Corp

39. ^[7] Wofford University


41. ^"What is Polycarbonate (PC)?" .

42 ^ "polycarbonate information and properties" Polymerprocessing com 2001 04 15 Retrieved
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42. ^ polycarbonate information and properties . Polymerprocessing.com. 2001-04-15. Retrieved

2012-10-27.

43. ^[9] PolymerProcessing.com

European Commission's funded FP7 project PRIME on mixed plastics recycling

External links [edit]

West, Larry. "Recyclable Plastic: Why are So Few Food

Containers Made of Recyclable Plastic?" . About.com.


Plastic Packaging Resin Codes data from the American Chemistry Council

ISF's Plastics Recovery Manual

American Chemistry Council Statement on Plastic Recycling

Technology for plastic recycling

Mike Biddle we can recycle plastic

Visit Earth911 to find locations to drop off plastics that are not recycled by your municipality

Recycling

Health issues of plasticsand Polyhalogenated compounds

(PHCs)

Categories: Plastic recycling Recycling by material

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