How Is Plastic Recycled?
Other People Are Reading
-
Sorting into groups
-
The first step in recycling plastics is to sort them according to type. Different types of plastics are often not compatible for recycling. For example, a hard shell from an electronics product can't be mixed with a plastic bag.
Cleaning
-
Once sorted into categories, plastics are inspected for foreign objects and cleanliness. Most items go through a large washing machine that eliminates most debris. However, labels and markings often remain on the plastic and must be removed through chemical processes.
-
Choping and Melting
-
Once the rough cleaning is done, the plastic is chopped into smaller pieces. Those pieces might be washed again to eliminate the last remnants of dirt. The pieces are then melted into small pellets that are distributed to companies that create plastic products.
-
