Plastic Waste Compactor
The word “plastics” previously comes from the Greek word “plastikos”, which means ‘to form’. Plastics make up about 10% of our waste stream. Plastic recycling quite make sense for both environment and natural resource. Many plastic recycling machines like plastic waste compactor are helping the whole recycling more cost-effective and efficient.
Are plastics recyclable?
There are six thermoplastic resins as below stated:
- – #1 PETE refers to Polyethylene terephthalate Soft drink & some water bottles, household cleaners.
- – #2 HDPE refers to High-density polyethylene Milk jugs, shampoo & detergent containers.
- – #3 V refers to Vinyl/Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Vegetable oil bottles.
- – #4 LDPE refers to Low-density polyethylene Dry cleaning & bread bags.
- – #5 PP refers to Polyproylene Yogurt cups.
- – #6 PS refers to Polystyrene Carry-out containers.
- – #7 All other resins and layered multi-material Microwaveable serving ware
All six thermoplastic resins are at least potential candidates for recycling because they can be heated and reformed. #1 and #2 resins are the most valuable and make up the largest percentage of plastic waste. Each resins has own functions. For example, PET is ideally suited as a container for carbonated beverages because it serves as an effective barrier to oxygen, thus keeping carbonation in. PP is widely used for films to package food because it is 500 times more effective than PET in keeping moisture away from a product. Which resins people want to recycle is affected by a combination of factors. For example, they can be the availability of markets, the cost of collection and sorting, and the price paid per ton for particular resins.
Plastic waste compactor in plastic recycling
Plastic waste usually end up at a materials recycling facility or “MRF”. The different resins needs to separate and then flattened. For easy transportation and storage, plastic waste compactor is used to bale these resins for size reduction purpose. These bales are then sent to a manufacturer who shreds them into flakes and washes them to remove metal caps, glue and paper. The material is then ready to reprocessed into a new product. PET bottles may end up as carpeting, fleece outerwear, T-shirts, some types of food packaging and fiberfill. HDPE bottles (milk & water jugs) often find new life as new containers, envelopes or protective wear, while the pigmented HDPE bottles may return as plastic lumber or marine pilings.
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