Average citizens took several years and a determined effort to adopt the recycling habit, but they did, and they have continued to do so in growing numbers—but is this enough?
Recycling isn’t a novel concept
Plastic recycling may have gained popularity during the Mother Earth-loving, hippy counter-culture revolution of the late twentieth century, but the concept was not new at the time. Repurposing and reusing things is as old as the concept of hand-me-downs.
For thousands of years, domestic objects were designed with the intention of being fixed rather than replaced if they broke. Until the advent of disposable containers, milk and cream were brought to homes in glass bottles that were collected when they were empty. They were then cleaned, sterilised, and refilled to begin the process all over again.
However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that society began to take steps to combat the ever-increasing volumes of garbage produced by nonbiodegradable disposable plastic packaging that was being pushed on customers in the name of convenience.
The Recycling of Plastics
Due to the increased number of stages necessary and the use of dyes, fillers, and other additives in virgin polymers, recycling plastic differs from recycling glass or metal (resin produced directly from a petrochemical or biochemical feed-stock).
The procedure starts with sorting the products according to their resin content. On the bottoms of plastic containers, there are seven different plastic recycling emblems. Plastics are sorted by these symbols at recycling mills (and are sometimes sorted an additional time based on the colour of the plastic). After being sorted, the plastics are cut into small bits and chunks and cleaned to eliminate material such as paper labels, contents residue, dirt, dust, and other impurities.
After being cleaned, the plastic is melted down and crushed into small pellets known as nurdles, which may then be reused and fashioned into new and diverse goods. (Recycled plastic is rarely used to make the same or similar plastic items as it was in its original form.)
Plastics That Are Frequently Recycled
- PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): Known for its outstanding clarity, strength, toughness, and ability to act as a gas and moisture barrier. Soft drink, water, and salad dressing bottles, as well as peanut butter jars, are commonly made of this material.
- HDPE stands for high-density polyethylene, which is known for its stiffness, strength, toughness, moisture resistance, and gas permeability. HDPE is widely used in milk, juice, and water bottling, as well as waste and retail bags.
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is a versatile, clear, bendable, strong, and robust material. Juice bottles, cling films, and PVC pipework are all examples of PVC.
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is well-known for its processing ease, strength, toughness, flexibility, and simplicity of sealing, as well as its effectiveness as a moisture barrier. Frozen food bags, freezable bottles, and flexible container lids are all examples.
Is Plastic Recycling Effective?
Yes and no, in a nutshell. There are numerous faults in the plastic recycling process. Some colours used in the manufacture of plastic products can be polluted, resulting in the scrapping of entire batches of potentially recyclable material. Another problem is that recycling plastic does not eliminate the need for virgin plastic. Plastic recycling, on the other hand, can and does reduce the use of other natural resources, such as timber, due to its use in the creation of composite lumber and many other products.
While it’s true that a big percentage of individuals refuse to recycle (only about 10% of plastic purchased new is returned for reuse), many plastic items, such as drinking straws and children’s toys, aren’t considered recyclable at all.
Furthermore, several cities have eliminated recycling alternatives or added restrictions (cleaning and drying containers, and disallowing certain grades of plastic) for things that could previously have been recycled, due to the sheer volume and rising costs.
In addition to recycling
Since its inception, plastic recycling has gone a long way and continues to make progress in lowering the quantity of waste in our landfills. While disposable packaging is unlikely to go away completely, consumers are increasingly able to choose from a variety of alternatives, such as biodegradable cellulose-based containers, cling film, and shopping bags, as well as reusable silicone food storage solutions.
Consumers in some areas who want to reduce their use of plastic are looking to the past for inspiration. Milkmen—and women—are making a comeback, carrying organic fruits and veggies, as well as gourmet cheeses and baked products, in recyclable glass bottles. It is only to be hoped that, in the long term, the benefits of our current “disposable civilization” will be overwhelmed by benefits that are really beneficial to the earth.
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