The word “plastic” comes from the Greek “plastikos”, which means “what can be moulded”. Although it was created in 1920 by a German chemist, the studies that led to plastic came from 1860, when a British chemist named Alexander Parts discovered cellulose nitrate. With the advancement of studies from this discovery, the possibilities acquired by the variety of characteristics presented by polymers resulted in the division of plastics between thermorrigious (non-recyclable) and thermoplastics (recyclables).
The types of plastic
Currently, we have several types of plastic, which are classified according to the Plastic Industry Association. This entity created the world symbol composed of three arrows forming a triangle with a number in the center, indicating the type of plastic in which the packaging is made. The numbering goes from 1 to 7, and let’s describe them below:
1 – PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): Certainly, the most recycled in the world. Produced from oil, it is a lightweight, waterproof and unbreakable material. Widely used in drinking, food packaging and cosmetics, the PET is recyclable.
2 – HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): It is very sturdy and versatile. Used in the manufacture of shampoo packaging, softener, soap, automotive oils, pots, and household items. Like the PET, it is made of oil and is quite recycled.
3 – PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): Its composition is 57% chlorine and 43% ethyl (petroleum derivative). Its main characteristics are high rigidity and impermeability. Its main use is in construction, such as gutters and tubes in water and sewage systems. But it is also used in the manufacture of toys and signaling cones. Although possible, PVC recycling is difficult, requiring more work already in screening centers.
4 – LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene): flexible, impermeable and light. It can be produced from oil or plant sources (green plastic). Usually used as food packaging, bags, hospital materials, and garbage bags.
5 – PP (Polypropylene): It is a recyclable plastic produced from propane gas. It is a sturdy, rigid, durable material and has the ability to conserve aromas. It is used in construction, industrial products, domestic utilities, and food packaging.
6 – PS (Polystyrene): It is a low-cost, flexible, good thermal and moldable plastic under heat. It is widely used to make some disposable items, food pots such as yogurt, ice cream, and candy, and parts of appliances and toys. It is considered a unique and poorly recyclable plastic.
7 – Others: Polycarbonates (PC) are the best-known plastics of this group. It is used to manufacture tough and strong products. We can also mention acrylic, nylon, mixed plastics, technical parts, and industrial plastics. Intended for continuous products as they can hardly be recycled.
Plastic recycling
Regarding recycling, there are basically three processes: mechanical, energetic, or chemical.
Mechanical recycling is the most common. The material, after collected, passes screening and cleaning. Once selected, the materials are crushed until they result in small grains, which will serve as a raw material for the manufacture of other products.
The energetic process consists of subjecting the material recycled to high temperatures, thus transforming it into thermoelectric energy used to move large turbine-related propellers.
Finally, chemical recycling aims to transform plastic into its primary raw material condition. By applying solvents, acids, other chemical elements and high temperatures, the plastic material returns to its original condition.
Conclusion
As we can see, plastic has significant importance in people’s lives. We cannot ignore the problem of the number of resources used to produce all this material. Therefore, the correct use and disposal should be encouraged more and more in our midst.
TM Scrap Metals & Recycling specializes in collecting all types of plastics. We also collect aluminum cans, glass bottles, steel, copper, brass, lead and more. We believe that recycling is a crucial activity for the preservation of the environment, as well as collaborating with the economy.