What’s the key?
People new to plastics recycling may not realize its complexity. “Plastic” covers many materials, each needing specific methods to become reusable raw materials. Like apples and bananas in recipes, plastic bottles, bags, and containers differ: some melt at low temps, others need special cleaning, and mixing types causes issues. Recycling isn’t just tossing in a bin—each type must be sorted, cleaned, and processed uniquely, like different tools for different jobs. Understanding these differences is key to recycling effectively.
What is Recycling？
Plastics are all around us in daily life, but not every type is easy to recycle. Some plastics need complex and expensive processes, so people rarely recycle them. The easiest plastics to recycle include:
- PET (polyethylene terephthalate): Used for soda and water bottles.
- HDPE (high-density polyethylene): Found in milk jugs, detergent bottles, and hair care product packages.
- PP (polypropylene): Seen in clothing, cords, plastic tubs, and bottles.
Huge Potential
Other plastics like LDPE (plastic bags) or PVC can be recycled too, but they’re harder to clean or can ruin other materials during recycling. Plastics have big recycling potential, but so do metals and organic materials—people have recycled those for much longer than plastics.
Why Sorting Matters
Not all plastics are the same, so sorting them by type is crucial. This step is tricky, which is why much plastic ends up in landfills or oceans. In many places, sorting is still done by hand: workers check recycling symbols on plastic items and toss them into the right bins. Only plastics that are clearly recyclable (and profitable to process) move to the next stage.
Thankfully, modern sorting tech is improving. For example:
- Optical sorting: Sensors and lights identify plastic types by their light absorption, then air jets push them into the correct containers.
- AI and machine learning: These systems learn to recognize more recyclable materials, keeping them out of waste streams.
- Robots: They pick and separate plastics, especially from construction waste, removing contaminants.
- Floating chutes: Plastics float or sink in water (based on density) to separate types. This also cleans residues from the plastic.
The Recycling Process
After sorting, they are chopped, ground, and heated until they melt into a liquid. This liquid is molded into new products. To work, recycled plastic must be pure—so removing all contaminants and ensuring consistent types is key.
Though only a fraction of plastic is recycled, every piece reused means less waste, fewer fossil fuels, and less pollution. Marine plastics, in particular, offer a chance for manufacturers to make greener products while sourcing locally.
