How are plastics recovered or reused in industries?
Answer:
Mechanical recycling is where the plastics, which soften on heating, are, reformed into molding granules to make new products. The process involves collection, sorting, baling then size reduction into flake (film and sheet) or granules which may then need washing and drying. This is then re-compounded with additives and/or more virgin raw material, extruded and chopped into pellets ready for reuse.
Feedstock or chemical recycling is where the plastics are broken down into their chemical constituents usually by heat and pressure.
Reuse provides another significant way to conserve resources. Plastics durability allows many products and packaging to be reused over and over again. Not surprisingly, in a 1997 survey, Wirthlin Worldwide found that more than 80 percent of Americans reuse plastic products and packaging in their home. Plastics are durable, making it a material of choice for commonly reused items, such as food storage containers and refillable sports bottles. Reuse of plastics reduces trash disposal costs and extends landfill capacity. For example, as much as 40 percent of certain plastic parts from damaged or discarded cars are repaired and reused, reducing the amount of automotive components sent to landfills. Laundry products are also being packaged in reusable plastic bottles and small, refill packages of concentrated product -- helping to reduce packaging waste.
Many U.S. businesses have made the decision to receive their supplies and ship their products in reusable plastic shipping containers (RPSC's) rather than single use corrugated boxes. Over the past two years, the Ford Motor Company has eliminated more than 150 million pounds of wood and cardboard packaging that would have gone to a landfill by asking its suppliers to use returnable plastic shipping containers and plastic, rather than wood, pallets. Returnable containers are also making major inroads in the produce and meat packaging industries.
More than 80 percent of all U.S. households have access to a plastics recycling program. Nearly 17,000 communities now collect plastics for recycling, half of which offer residents curbside collection. (Since not all kinds of plastics are widely or generally recycled, APC urges you to check with your local recycling coordinator to see what types of materials are accepted in your community.)
In 1998, the volume of plastic bottles recycled reached an all-time high of 1.45 billion pounds. HDPE bottle recycling rose to a record level of 734 million pounds. Recycling of PET bottles increased, reaching an all-time high of 710 million pounds, including 580 million pounds of soft drink bottles.
The number of plastics recycling businesses has tripled since 1990, with more than 1,700 businesses handling and reclaiming post-consumer plastics. APC's Recycled Plastic Products Source Book lists approximately 1,300 commercially available products made with or packaged in post-consumer recycled plastics, including office supplies, park benches, sweaters, jeans, videocassettes, detergent bottles and toys.
The production, distribution and use of products -- regardless of the material from which they are made-- use energy resources in some way, whether it's fossil fuels, hydroelectric or nuclear. It may be surprising to learn that only about 4 percent of the United States' total energy consumption is used in the production of all plastic products.
Franklin Associates, Ltd., a leading practitioner in life cycle studies, has conducted research to compare the life cycle energy impacts of plastics and alternative materials. One study compared the energy required to manufacture, use and dispose of common packaging items -- including bottles, tubs, wraps and foam clamshells -- with the most likely non-plastic alternatives. Franklin found that by using plastic of alternative packaging, product manufacturers save enough energy each year to power a city of 1 million homes for roughly three-and-a-half years.
Plastics can also help conserve energy in your home. Because of the superior insulation properties of plastics, vinyl siding and windows help reduce energy consumption and lower your utility bills. Vinyl windows, for instance, can save the average homeowner between $150 and $450 each year on heating and cooling costs compared to other types of windows.
The same principles apply in modern appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners. Fifty-three billion kilowatt hours of electricity are saved every year by improvements in major appliance energy efficiency made possible to a great extent by plastics. Without the benefits provided by polyurethane foam insulation, these appliances could use as much as 30 percent more energy,12 driving up our electricity bills and increasing spoilage.
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