Recycling (Plastics): Difference between revisions
(Created page with "Most plastics can be recycled, there are two methods for recycling - mechanical and chemical. When you put some plastic in your recycling bin you don't know where it is going and how (or if) it is being recycled. The two methods both have pros and cons. In summary, mechanical grinds up old plastic (after sorting and washing) into pellets, these are then reused to extrude new plastic items. Chemical recycling actually breaks down the plastic into its component parts and...") |
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Additionally, some chemical recycling is not really recycling at all, it is burnt as fuel, so is actually "energy from waste". | Additionally, some chemical recycling is not really recycling at all, it is burnt as fuel, so is actually "energy from waste". | ||
This article gives a more in depth look at the two methods [https://www.richmondcontainers.com/b/mechanical-vs-chemical-recycling Mechanical vs Chemical Recycling] | This article gives a more in depth look at the two methods: [https://www.richmondcontainers.com/b/mechanical-vs-chemical-recycling Mechanical vs Chemical Recycling] | ||
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Latest revision as of 14:13, 18 July 2024
Most plastics can be recycled, there are two methods for recycling - mechanical and chemical. When you put some plastic in your recycling bin you don't know where it is going and how (or if) it is being recycled. The two methods both have pros and cons.
In summary, mechanical grinds up old plastic (after sorting and washing) into pellets, these are then reused to extrude new plastic items. Chemical recycling actually breaks down the plastic into its component parts and reconstitutes it, so it is like virgin plastic.
Plastic from mechanical recycling degrades with each process and has a lesser quality, so some plastics are no longer suitable for their original purpose and are used in industrial applications. Chemical recycling uses far more energy and has a lower output, so is questionable if it is worthwhile. Additionally, some chemical recycling is not really recycling at all, it is burnt as fuel, so is actually "energy from waste".
This article gives a more in depth look at the two methods: Mechanical vs Chemical Recycling