Plastics recycling, Waste recycling

Plastics recycling, Waste recycling

Plastics recycling, Waste recycling

Guide to understanding plastic recycling symbols and getting the most out of this material

Plastics take a long time to degrade, which is why recycling them is so important. The advantage is that their reuse offers great potential—so much so that research is already underway to convert them into green hydrogen. According to La Vanguardia, Dr. Manish Shetty, a professor of engineering, is leading a research team at the University of Texas A&M to study how to break down plastics using catalysts before they invade the environment—our beaches, mountains, forests… This research, highlighted by the journal Interesting Engineering, is hoped to lead to an innovative solution to the problem of waste and energy.

We’ve already seen the usefulness of understanding recycling symbols—icons that help us identify materials for proper recycling. In the case of plastics, they are identified with numbers. Understanding these symbols is very useful, as plastics can be transformed into new materials and used to manufacture products like swimwear, carpets, beach mats, new packaging, bottles, and more.

Symbol for Plastic Recycling

SYMBOL 1

SYMBOL 1. Based on the international recycling symbol—the Möbius loop—each of these icons features a number inside the triangle. There are seven icons used to identify different types of plastic.

ICON 1. PET, also known as PETE, is commonly used for soda bottles, mineral water containers, fruit juice bottles, and cooking oil bottles. It is a highly recyclable plastic that can be repurposed into containers, carpets, furniture, and more. However, it does not easily degrade during the recycling process, which reduces the risk of trapping decomposition products that could later leach out, separating soluble from insoluble parts. Despite its high demand from manufacturers, recycling rates for PET remain relatively low.

ICONO 1 PET

ICON 2. HDPE is one of the most widely used plastics in the United States. Thanks to its lightweight and high strength, HDPE is commonly used to manufacture a variety of products and is considered the most suitable plastic for packaging cleaning products, milk, detergents, and laundry soap. HDPE sheets can also be easily recycled into pipes, oil bottles, pens, and detergent containers.

ICONO 2 HDPE

ICON 3. We can find this icon with the letter V or the acronym PVC, corresponding to vinyl or polyvinyl chloride. It is a plastic sometimes used to make aluminum bubble rolls and trays for candy and fruit. It is also used to make rigid sheets of foam core board, known as PVC foam board, which is used for a wide variety of commercial applications; because of its lightweight and rigid properties, it can be easily stamped, sawed, punched, nailed, riveted or bonded with PVC adhesive. The problem with PVC is its recyclability. While it can be reused to make speed bumps, road curbs and cables, it is rarely recycled.

ICONO 3 PVC

ICON 4. The acronym LDPE indicates that the plastic is made from low-density polyethylene, which stands for low-density polyethylene. This plastic comes in the form of shopping bags, heavy-duty sacks and crushed bottles. Although it is a type of plastic that is not typically recycled, it is used to make shipping tiles and envelopes.

ICONO 4 LDPE

ICON 5. This icon represents polypropylene plastic. Because of its durability, strength and light weight, it is used in the manufacture of furniture, briefcases and suitcases, toys, and for the lining and bodywork of automobiles. As one of the safest types of plastic, it is used to make ketchup bottles and medicine containers.

ICONO 5 PP

ICON 6. Styrene and polystyrene – formed from the polymerization of styrene, a synthetic thermoplastic elastomer – are recognized by the acronym PS. Used in toys, hard packaging, trays for refrigerators and freezers, cosmetic bags, costume jewelry, CD cases and cups for coffee vending machines, they can be recycled to make egg cartons, take-out food containers and rulers, squares and scalimeters.

ICONO 6 PS

ICON 7. The international recycling symbol, when it includes the number 7 and the word OTHERS, tells us that we have before us a different type of plastic than the previous ones, among which are acrylic plastic, polycarbonate plastic, polylactic fibers, nylon and fiberglass. Not all of these plastics can be recycled, except for acrylic and polycarbonate, in order to reuse them for future products. Moreover, since they are thermoplastics, they can be reheated without loss of quality. Acrylic plastic is also used for food storage, due to its strength and transparency. Also, due to its durability, it is used for the manufacture of signs, shelves and display cases.

ICONO 7 OTRO

Plastics with the numbers 1, 2, 4 and 5 are suitable for reuse and do not represent any health risk. However, it is advisable to use water bottles labeled PET 1 only once and provided they are not exposed to high temperatures, are properly cleaned and are kept in their original condition.

In contrast, plastics labeled 3, 6 and 7 should not be used due to their content of harmful components such as PVC, polycarbonate, BPA and other single-use plastics harmful to health.

Leading the market in sorting and recycling solutions, PICVISA offers innovative products for sorting and detecting all types of plastics. Thus, ECOPACK is an optical sorter that uses the latest technology in vision and artificial intelligence.

Undoubtedly, modernizing the recycling of plastics and other materials is an increasingly urgent need to help comply with legal frameworks. It is also an opportunity to improve the efficiency and profitability of recycling facilities, helping to promote a circular economy and the sustainability of our planet. Industry should do its part and cooperate with public administrations to invest in research. And everything seems to indicate that the public will continue to do its bit more and more.