Paper and Plastic Recycling Can Save the World

“Please recycle” is a common phrase inare being recycled every year. The amount of
almost all labels of plastic and paper products inplastics that are recycled has increased since
the market. Manufacturers of plastic and paper1990. According to American Plastics Council,
strongly encourage consumers to get involved inalmost 1,800 U.S. businesses reclaim
paper recycling, as well as plastic recycling. But forpost-consumer plastics. Still, with this number, the
one to recycle plastics, one has a lot toUnited States only recycled about five percent of
understand first. You see, there is a certainthe plastics produced domestically.
process to follow in waste recycling especiallyPlastics are first collected from curbside recycling
plastic products.bins and drop-off locations. From there, they go
Plastics are one of the most difficult to recycleto a material recovery facility where they are
and before the recycling process can begin, allsorted and sent to a reclamation facility. At the
plastic materials have to be sorted first accordingreclamation facility, the plastic is inspected and
to the Resin Identification Code. This will serve awashed. Next it is chopped into small flakes. The
guide for recyclers.flakes are then placed in a flotation tank and then
There are almost 50 different main groups ofdried in a tumbler. The dried flakes are then
plastics, each containing many different varieties.placed in a costly extruder where they are
The Resin Identification Code system wasmelted. The melted plastic is sifted through a
introduced to make the sorting of recyclablescreen to remove any contaminants and then it is
products easier and more universal.formed into strands. Finally, the strands are
This is the Resin Identification Code used forchopped into pellets and sold to manufacturers to
plastic materials.make new products. This starts a new life for the
Name of Polymer Abbreviation Common Usesrecycled plastics. As technology continues to
When Recycled PET / PETE Polyethyleneevolve, the cost of the recycling plastic process
terephthalate Polyester fibre, soft drink bottlesgradually decreases and hopefully, the amount of
HDPE High density polyethylene Bottles, plasticrecycled plastics will increase. At the same time,
carrier bags, recycling bins PVC / V Polyvinylconsumers have become more aware of the
chloride Pipe, fencing, non-food bottles LDPE Loweffect of plastic wastes on the planet so they are
density polyethylene Plastic bags, containers,reducing the use of plastic bottles and bags
dispensing bottles PP Polypropylene Auto parts,before it is too late.
industrial fibre PS Polystyrene Coffee cups, toys,We ourselves do our share at home. Why not
video cassettes OTHER Other Plastics Variousstart separating your plastic items from other
Sorting plastics is expensive and time-consumingwaste materials so that at least you have done a
but this is essential in the recycling process.little help in saving our planet? It’s not a big
Despite the challenges, more and more plasticstask but entails discipline.