RECYCLING OF PLASTICS

Background

Plastics has become one of the most popular and useful materials of the present day.  We now use about 20 times more plastic now than we did 50 years ago.  By recycling it is possible to reduce the need to create virgin materials.  This has the benefit of conserving oil (although plastic is largely a by-product), reducing energy consumption, reducing landfill and reducing carbon dioxide and other gas emissions.

One of the difficulties is that there is a wide range of different plastic materials in use.  Some of these cannot currently be recycled in the UK as we do not have the necessary new technology.  Among these materials are those used to make margarine tubs and yoghurt pots, for example.  The result is that some plastics still go to landfill, some are incinerated and some shipped abroad.

Current Position

92% of UK local authorities now offer collection facilities for plastic bottles.  These are usually manufactured from either PET or HDPE, both materials are easily recyclable.  Many of these authorities also offer recycling of a wider range of plastics and other materials.

Once collected the materials need sorting, shredding, washing and then melting before being pelletised ready for reuse.  The sorting is largely an automatic process but some manual intervention is usually required.

Sources of Plastic Waste

Plastic waste can be sourced from a variety of origins.  The article has so far looked mainly at domestic waste as this presents the biggest problem.  Factory scrap is the purest form of plastic as it is normally well sorted, clean and dry.  Understandably, this has the highest value.

There is some plastic now becoming available from demolition and refurbishment but as plastic is a relatively new material in construction the amounts are small.  The material tends to be of relatively good quality but may require cleaning.

As mentioned above, domestic waste if the highest profile but plastics from this source are often dirty, wet and of mixed types.  This makes recycling more difficult and costly.

To help with sorting, most plastic products carry a recycling symbol as follows:

  Polyethylene Terephthalate – fizzy drink bottles and oven-ready meal trays

  High Density Polyethylene – bottles for milk and washing-up liquids

  Polyvinyl Chloride – food trays, cling film, bottles for squash, mineral water and shampoo.

  Low Density Polyethylene – carrier bags and bin liners

  Polypropylene – margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays

  Polystyrene – yoghurt pots, foam meat or fish trays, hamburger boxes and egg cartons, vending cups, plastic cutlery, protective packaging for electronic goods and toys.

    Any other plastics, e.g. melamine which is often used in plastic plates and cups.

 

Applications for Recycled Plastics

There is a wide range of products made from recycled plastics, including

• Bin liners and carrier bags
• Plastic bottles
• Flooring and window frames
• Building insulation board
• Fencing and garden furniture
• Water butts and composters
• Fibre filliing for sleeping bags and duvets
• Pipes and ducting

Other Approaches to Plastic Waste

Degradable Plastics

Oil based plastics that either break down or disperse in to smaller fragments.  These may in turn biodegrade or break down further to reduce the material to water, carbon dioxide, biomass (plant matter) and trace elements.

Biodegradable Plastics

These should break down cleanly, in a defined time period, to form simple molecules found in the environment such as carbon dioxide and water.

Compostable Plastics

These are a form of biodegradable plastics which must demonstrate that they biodegrade and disintegrate completely in a compost bin or system during the 3-4 months composting process.

Note:  Biodegradable and degradable plastics will not degrade effectively in a landfill site and could potentially hinder the quality of recycled plastic if they enter a conventional plastics recycling system.

Rutland Plastics

As a company, Rutland Plastics endeavours to minimise plastic waste.  All scrap plastic products along with sprues are ground up.  The resulting regrind material is then reused internally wherever possible.  Any material that cannot be reused internally is sold to material reprocessors.

Rutland Plastics has the Environmental Management Standard ISO14001:2004.

 

More Rutland Plastics Newsletter Articles

 

 

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