Recycle Plastic
When it comes to plastic pollution, recycling is a good option. Processing the plastic at a recycling facility and putting it back into circulation helps to double its utilization. Recycling reduces the amount of plastic waste, which always ends up in landfills, contaminating the water supply and generating numerous invisible microplastics. Basically, instead of using new raw materials, we highly recommend taking something ready to give it a second life.
At ShinHigh, we have made significant investments to obtain GRS certification. Our goal is to recycle more compostable bags and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Additionally, our compostable bags are made of reusable materials, which are highly resistant and can be used multiple times. Whether you are starting a new business or running a company, using recyclable bags can help you establish a positive image and encourage your customers to take action to protect the planet.
How to Recycle Plastic: A Step-by-Step Guide
1. Collection: Gathering Used Plastics
The first step is collecting used plastic materials. This is typically handled by:
Local Government Programs: Curbside pickup from homes, apartments, and businesses.
Private Recycling Companies: Collection services from commercial and industrial clients.
Public Drop-off Points: Designated recycling bins at community centers, parks, and other locations.
These collection methods gather a variety of plastic items, preparing them for the next stage.
2. Sorting: Separating Plastics by Type
Once collected, the mixed plastic waste needs to be sorted. This crucial step involves separating plastics based on:
Resin Type: Identifying plastics such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), HDPE (high-density polyethylene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and PP (polypropylene). Each type has different properties and melting points.
Color: Sorting by color helps ensure consistent final products.
Thickness: Separating plastics by thickness aids in processing efficiency.
Application: Differentiating plastics based on their original use (e.g., bottles, containers, films)
Using machines for this step makes the process more efficient and minimizes contamination.
This thorough sorting ensures that the right materials are sent to the appropriate recycling processes, preventing contamination and improving the quality of recycled plastic.
3. Washing: Cleaning Away Impurities
Before reusing the plastics, they need a thorough wash. This cleaning process removes:
Product Labels and Adhesives: Stickers and glues that can interfere with the melting process.
Dirt and Debris: General grime accumulated during use and disposal.
Food Residue: Leftovers that can contaminate recycled plastics and cause odors.
While washing removes the majority of impurities, it’s important to understand that complete elimination of contaminants isn’t guaranteed.
4. Shredding: Preparing Plastics for Processing
Cleaned plastics are then fed into a shredder, where they are reduced into smaller pieces. This:
Increases Surface Area: Smaller pieces melt more easily.
Allows for Further Processing: Shredded pieces are easier to handle and feed into subsequent stages.
Potential for Alternative Uses: Fragments can sometimes be sold as raw materials without further steps.
Additional Purification: Further purification might be performed after shredding, using magnets to pick up any residual metals.
5. Identification and Separation: Density and Air Classification
To further refine the process, shredded plastics undergo:
Density Testing: Plastic pellets are floated in water to separate them based on their density.
Air Classification: Shredded plastic is blown through a wind tunnel. Thinner pieces float, while thicker pieces stay on the ground.
This identification and separation step ensures that only high-quality plastic of the same grade are processed together.
6. Extrusion and Compounding: Creating Recycled Plastic Pellets
The final stage of the recycling process involves converting the shredded plastic into a usable form:
Melting and Extrusion: The shredded plastic is melted down and forced through a die to create strands, which are then cooled and cut into pellets.
Compounding: The melted plastic is sometimes mixed with additives to enhance its properties for specific uses.
Final Product: These pellets serve as the raw material for manufacturing new plastic products.
Multiple Facilities: Not all recycling facilities can handle all plastics, so sometimes, plastic of a different quality may be sent to another facility for processing
Actions You Can Take
Check out which types of plastics are accepted for recycling.
Collect and sort your plastics.
Send your plastics to a recycling company or industry.