| Plastics products are ubiquitous throughout the | | | | from the lighter ones - this is called the float-sink |
| world. As dependency upon these light weight and | | | | stage. The plastics are then dried and ready to |
| durable products increased, so too has the need | | | | become new products in the hands of |
| for global innovation in recycling technologies. Over | | | | manufacturers throughout the world. |
| the decades recycling companies developed a | | | | But, new methods are constantly being developed |
| variety of processes to turn discarded plastics | | | | to recycle PET products, including a |
| into hundreds of products from paint brushes to | | | | de-polymerization process that "reverses" the |
| rugs and pillows, boat hulls and railroad ties. | | | | chemical process used to make the polymer. |
| Calling the Consumer | | | | There are pilot projects using this method, as well |
| The greatest challenge to recycling manufacturers | | | | as other innovative processes to make plastic |
| is educating and engaging the public. About 75 | | | | recycling more environmentally friendly and |
| percent of Americans recycle newspaper and | | | | economical. |
| cardboard while little more than 25 percent | | | | Demand for Recycled Products |
| recycle plastic. Industry analysts think this low | | | | The importance of recycled PET and HDPE cannot |
| response rate might be due to a lack of | | | | be ignored. The latter, heavier PET is used to |
| understanding about the coding on recyclable | | | | make building materials that become backyard |
| plastics - the small triangle with a number in the | | | | decks that last longer than wood; it becomes |
| center - that identifies what kind of plastic an item | | | | lawn furniture, trash cans, office products, |
| is. | | | | buckets, safety cones and much more. HDPE can |
| The most frequently recycled plastics of the | | | | also be used to manufacture above and below |
| seven groups of polymer plastics are PET 01,used | | | | ground water storage tanks that withstand |
| in soft drink bottles and smaller jars; PE-HD 02, a | | | | decades of use. |
| harder and more durable plastic used in milks | | | | Of five major classes of PET plastics, the most |
| bottles and large trash bags; and PE-LD 04 that's | | | | high-end use is to manufacture new PET bottles |
| tough yet flexible and used in frozen food bags, | | | | and containers. Other classes include plastic |
| flexible container lids and squeeze bottles. | | | | sheeting or plastic that's used for molding small |
| Although the recycling rate of these and other | | | | items such as scoops for laundry detergent; |
| products is not yet impressive, the numbers have | | | | strapping materials for packaging and |
| been steadily rising since 1990. In 2006, about 2.2 | | | | transportation; resins that are used in molds for |
| billion pounds of PET plastic bottles were recycled | | | | automobile components; and material that's |
| and 928 million pounds of HDPE (High Density | | | | combined to make fibers for carpeting, fabrics |
| Polyethylene) containers made it to recyclers. | | | | and fiber fillings. |
| Innovating PET Production | | | | Recycled PET can show up in unexpected places |
| As awareness of the environmental damage done | | | | such as business cards, sleeping bags, baseball |
| by polymers increased, so too did the urgency to | | | | caps and the welcome mat at your front door. |
| encourage recycling. At the same time, | | | | In the Hands of the Consumer |
| experimentation with processing and application | | | | Ultimately, it's all up to the consumer. Awareness |
| rose. For example, according to a CNN report, a | | | | of the environmental benefits of recycling plastic |
| Ph.D. in India, Dr. S. Madhu, included shredded and | | | | and the viability of manufacturing with recycled |
| melted plastic in a roadway surfacing mix. Working | | | | PET can mitigate environmental damage and |
| for the Kerala Highway Research Institute, Madhu | | | | support a global industry that returns economical |
| mixed the plastic with aggregate and bitumen to | | | | and useful products to the marketplace. |
| create a surface that withstands the pounding of | | | | In the U.S., many municipal governments have |
| annual monsoon seasons. | | | | made it easier for consumers to recycle plastic. |
| Working in a highly regulated environment, | | | | Cities accept all plastic products with the recycle |
| conventional recycling manufacturers focus on | | | | symbol and do the sorting themselves before |
| producing a long list of common products. | | | | shipping off for further processing. The consumer |
| Although processes vary, they generally follow a | | | | doesn't have to deal with separating PET numbers |
| common methodology. First, plastics are sorted | | | | or peeling off labels. Many states have passed |
| according to their PET identification number. This is | | | | legislation commonly known as "bottle bills" that |
| often done before the recycled products reach | | | | charge a small fee for plastic containers. There is |
| the manufacturer. The "dirty" PET containers are | | | | greater value to the consumer to recycle when |
| also cleaned of labels, glue and other residual | | | | there is the incentive of a redemption value. |
| materials. A dirty regrind of the PET then goes to | | | | Some communities have "drop off" recycling |
| re-claimers who process the material into a form | | | | centers and others have "buy back" centers that |
| that can be used by manufacturers. Re-claimers | | | | pay consumers for recyclable materials. |
| further clean the materials of contaminants and | | | | Whatever the method of recycling or the process |
| materials that are lighter than the plastic. The final | | | | that recreates value from discarded PET |
| flakes of PET are washed with a special | | | | products, it's clear that the public, governments |
| detergent that gets rid of glues, food or dirt. | | | | and industry share a financial and environmental |
| Next, the PET materials are further treated with | | | | stake in the practice of plastic recycling. |
| processes that separate the heavier PET particles | | | | |