When Plastics Are Recycled...
They will be sent to materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and will undergo a journey that looks something like this:
The materials are sorted, and non-recyclable products are removed.
The recyclable plastics will then be sorted by type, before being compressed and arranged into bales Each bale is sent to be shredded and washed, where labels, dirt and other debris are removed where necessary. The cleaned remains are cut into small chips The chips are melted at about 240°C to produce plastic strands that are chopped into pellets These pellets are sold to companies that turn them into a variety of different products, including:
• Kitchen equipment like food containers, cutting boards, mixing bowls, spatulas
• Fibres for clothing and carpets
• Automotive battery cases
• Gardening tools like shovels and watering cans • Shipping pallets
• Storage bins