How is Plastic Recycled

Chiara and Casey

4.1

Step: 1

•Empty plastic bottles are collected with your recycling and taken to a Materials Recovery Facility, where they are separated from your other recyclable materials.

Step: 2

• The bottles are squashed, baled and sent to UK reprocessors.

Step: 3

• The bottles are dry cleaned and sorted using an optical beam which separates the different types of plastic.

Step: 4

Step: 5

The bottles are then ground into flakes which are washed and sorted again.  Depending on the kind of plastic, the flakes are either decontaminated using a chemical solution or melted down and sieved to form beads as the plastic cools.

These beads and flakes can be melted down again and turned into new products. This can include packaging, drainage pipes, garden furniture or simply new plastic bottles!

RecyclingPlastic

Kat, Mar and Jaz

What is recycling?

Plastic recycling is the process of recovering scrap or waste plastic and reprocessing the material into useful products, sometimes completely different in form from their original state. Since plastic is not normally biodegradable, recycling it is part of global efforts to reduce plastic in the waste stream, especially the approximately eight million metric tonnes of waste plastic that enter the earth's ocean every year.

Why is it important?

Plastics are used to manufacture an incredible number of products we use every day, such as beverage and food containers, trash bags and grocery bags, plastic cups and utensils, children's toys and diapers, and bottles for everything from mouthwash and shampoo to glass cleaner and dishwashing liquid. And that's not even counting all the plastic that goes into furniture, appliances, computers and automobiles

Ways to Recycle Plastic

Plastic Recyling By Marilyn and Dale

1

• Plastic recycling is the process of recovering scrap or waste plastic and reprocessing the material into useful products, sometimes completely different in form from their original state.

2

• Since plastic is not normally biodegradable, recycling it is part of global efforts to reduce plastic in the waste stream, especially the approximately eight million metric tonnes of waste plastic that enter the earth's ocean every year.

Plastic recycling includes melting down soft drink bottles and then casting them as plastic chairs and tables. However, this kind of "recycling" is rather a misnomer since plastic beverage bottles (soda, juice, milk) are never truly reformed into new beverage bottles, as this requires virgin plastic.

Beer cans

RECYCLED MATERIALS SHANIA AND KRISTINA

STEPS HOW TO RECYCLE CANS:

Step 1

• Before taking the cans to a recycling facility, the can must be rinsed properly .

Step 2

• Take your soda cans to a metal recycling facilityThe payment per pound of metal varies depending on the going rate .

Step 3

• Recycle your soda cans yourself into other useful items. Some people recycle their used soda cans into ashtrays, candle holders, plant pots or a myriad of other items.

RECYCLING IN EUROPE :

ADVANTAGES• Recycling is a process to change waste materials into new products to prevent

waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials.

• Plastic recycling is the process of recovering scrap or waste plastic and reprocessing the material into useful products, sometimes completely different in form from their original state. For instance, this could mean melting down soft drink bottles and then casting them as plastic chairs and tables.

BENEFITS OF RECYCLING :Benefits of Recycling

• Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators;

• Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals;

• Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials;

• Saves energy;

• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change;

• Helps sustain the environment for future generations;

• Helps create new well-paying jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in the United States.

How to Recycle Clothes

Lourdes, Danica, Shelly

The Process of Recycling clothes

Fiber reclamation mills grade incoming material into type and color.

The color sorting means no re-dying has to take place, saving energy and pollutants.

The textiles are shredded into "shoddy" fibers and blended with other selected fibers, depending on the intended end use of the recycled yarn.

The blended mixture is carded to clean and mix the fibers and spun ready for weaving or knitting.

The fibers can also be compressed for mattress production.

Textiles sent to the flocking industry are shredded to make filling material for car insulation, roofing felts, loudspeaker cones, panel linings and furniture padding.

The Process of Recycling clothes For specialized polyester based materials

the recycling process is significantly different.

The first step is to remove the buttons and zippers then to cut the garments into small pieces.

The shredded fabric is then granulated and formed into small pellets.

The pellets are broken down polymerized and turned into polyester chips.

The chips are melted and spun into new filament fiber used to make new polyester fabrics.

The Process of Recycling clothes

Clothing fabric generally consists of composites of cotton (biodegradable material) and synthetic plastics. The textile's composition will affect its durability and method of recycling.

Some companies are creating new pieces of clothing from scraps of old clothes. By combining and making new additions, the eclectic garments are marketed as a

type of style.

Clothing and Accessories

Clothing and textiles are nearly 100 percent recyclable. More and more people are recycling their old attire, whether it’s through donation, thrift store shopping or simple curb side recycling.

What happens to clothing once it's donated to a thrift store?

When an piece of clothing or accessory is donated, the charity or thrift store that receives it will always seek out the maximum value for that item.

That might mean it is put of up for sale first, and if the item isn’t sold within that store’s preferred time-frame, it moves on to the next stage.

This could be in the form of donation to a charity, wholesale to a clothing recycler to convert the item to scraps for another reuse, or sale overseas.

What does recycled clothing become?

If clothing isn’t still useable, it’s typically sent to recyclers to be broken down and reused.

Clothing can become anything from cleaning rags and carpet padding to rubberized playgrounds and insulation.

Are some clothing items or accessories easier to recycle than others?

If you are donating clothing and accessories, the better their condition, the more likely they are to be resold and reused as-is.

But, older pieces or those that have more wear and tear can still be used. Here’s a list of what can be recycled in any condition.

Recycling Wine Corks

Cherise, Leona and Raisa

Where corks can be

recycled ?

Cork is a 100 percent natural, biodegradable and renewable resource. According to ReCork, cork trees are an environmentally sustainable resource. Layers of the tree bark are stripped off (without harming the tree) and turned into various products, most often wine corks.

Cork for bottle stoppers accounts for almost 70% of the total value of the cork market

Are there cool ways to reuse

cork?Yes! Cork is a durable

material that can be recycled into anything from craft supplies to

flooring.

Cork can be used to make DIY lamp

shades, bath mats, flip-flops and even

recycled home appliances.

Creative Ways to Recycle Wine Corks

Saving EnergySephora and Rebecca

Saving Energy

• Use Energy Saving bulbs• Turn down the thermostat• Use windows to regulate the temperature• Decrease the hot water temperature• Wash economically• Prevent drafts

Saving Energy

• Turn off appliances and lighting• Insulate your house• Look for grants available to help make your

home energy efficient• Switch to eco-friendly energy• Create a bright room in your house

Saving Energy

• Replace electric lights with candles• Embrace natural lighting and heat• Install ceiling fans instead of air conditioners• Use rechargable batteries• Avoid rinsing before using the dishwasher• Use cold water to wash dishes

Saving Energy

• Use cold water to wash clothes• Use biological washing powders for

clothes washing• Only wash full loads• Air dry your dishes• Use soaps and detergents that contain no

phosphates

Saving Energy

• Recycle paper when printing• Turn off the computer everyday• Use public transport to travel• Walk to short distances• Compost kitchen scraps

The End

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle