Plastic Recycling Leicester

We are surrounded by plastic. We see and use plastic on a daily basis, from drink bottles to supermarket bags to your ID card. Petrochemicals are used to make a lot of these plastics. The amount of plastic in our environment can have both positive and negative consequences.

It all depends on how it is managed. It can be a waste of resources to create new plastic. To avoid waste, it is therefore reasonable to reuse and recycle plastic. At Leicester Waste, we can help you manage your plastic in the best possible way while saving you costs and time. You can call us on 01163 400 740 anytime. 

How is Plastic Recycled?

Plastics come in a variety of shapes and sizes. As a result, recycling all plastics in the same way is difficult. As a result, plastic is recycled in two ways; traditional recycling and chemical recycling.

Traditional Recycling

This is the most often used recycling process. Mechanical recycling is another term for traditional recycling. Thermoplastic materials can be recycled using this technology. The traditional recycling technique involves melting plastics and turning them into new plastic goods. After recyclers melt the plastic, they transform them into new goods through a process called injection molding.

Advanced Recycling

Advanced recycling is a method of breaking down plastic by the use of chemicals. This method is made up of three different techniques namely; Pyrolysis, chemical recycling, and gasification are examples of these processes. Pyrolysis is a process of converting plastic waste into crude oil. Chemical recycling is the process of converting a polymer into a monomer that can be used to make new plastic products. Chemical recycling, for example, is used to create nylons.

On the other hand, gasification converts plastic to gas. Producers use the gas obtained from this process to create energy.

Traditional and sophisticated recycling both have advantages. Using one of the two ways, however, is dependent on the facilities available. The recycling procedure is also determined by the end product that a recycler wants to make. Plastic recycling is not as difficult as creating new plastic things. Plastic recycling, on the other hand, is not a simple task. It necessitates meticulous procedures and meticulous attention to detail. The procedures could take months to complete.

Plastic Recycling Process Leeds

Regardless of the type of plastic or its intended use, it usually passes through a few basic phases during recycling. The following are the six most important processes in the recycling of plastic products. 

1. Collection

Gathering waste plastic items is the initial stage in plastic recycling. While it may appear that this procedure is simple, it is not.

2. Sorting into categories

Following collecting, we will transport the plastic to recycling facilities where it is separated into several categories. Plastics vary in size, colour, thickness, and application, as you probably already know. Recycling machines separate plastics according to their qualities in this procedure. Colour and resin content in the plastic are frequently used by recyclers to separate plastics.

3. Impurities Removal

Recycling companies wash plastics after sorting them to remove contaminants.       Paper labels, dirt, and particles are examples of impurities in plastic. Plastic materials may contain glue and other chemicals, which can be removed by washing them. Washing is necessary because contaminants can harm a fresh product if they are not removed. Furthermore, the contaminants in plastic products are not made of plastic and may not be recyclable.

4. Shredding

This happens right after the plastics have been washed. Plastic can’t be recycled in its current state since it’s too developed. It is necessary to reduce the size of the plastic material so that it can be recycled. Materials will be shredders to convert the plastic into fragments in the fourth procedure.

5. Compounding

Compounding is the final step in the plastic recycling process. In this process, recyclers convert plastic particles into materials that may be replicated by manufacturers. To make pellets, compounding includes smashing and melting plastic particles. Extrusion is another name for this procedure. Following all of this, new plastic materials arise. Alternatively, other materials that the recycler hoped to produce.