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Recycling Plastic Bags Article
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The Basics of the Plastic Recycling Process
from:You could choose to just put your plastic recyclables in the bin and forget about it. That is a perfectly acceptable way to approach the whole recycling thing. However if you do things this way, you are really missing out on an exciting and interesting topic. The plastic recycling process begins from the time the virgin plastic to made, all the way through to the end, when it begins again as a new product after the recycling process. Most virgin plastics are made from natural gas, ethylene gas, or as a byproduct of petroleum development. Regardless of the system used, this process takes a lot of energy to complete and requires a lot of resources that aren’t necessary in the plastic recycling process.
It may seem like an unnecessary step, but one of the most crucial aspects of the plastic recycling process is you. Yes, the people who take the time and put forth the effort to recycle are vital to the process. Without residents dropping off their recyclables or having them picked up by a recycling collection company, the recycling plants wouldn’t have any material to work with. As a consumer, it’s your job to make sure your plastic recyclable materials are as clean as possible. Many people are surprised by how much gunk in the recycling machines messes up the plastic recycling process.
Once the plastic reach the recycling center, both people and machines start the sorting and cleaning process every type of recyclable plastic has to go through. Machines called bales breakers are typically used for this purpose. Conveyor belts help to move the plastic through the recycling process. It’s not uncommon for metal detectors to play a role in preparing the various plastics for recycling. It’s important to note that plastics have to be sorted carefully. As anyone in the know can tell you, plastics of dissimilar composition don’t mix well and a mistake can disturb the entire recycling batch.
One thing that has to be understood about the plastic recycling process is that it varies greatly depending on the type of plastics being processed and the final shape and use the plastic is intended for after recycling. As you can imagine, the process to make a grocery bag is wildly different from the one to produce carpet fibers or clothing. There is nothing like seeing the process up close and personal. Consider contacting your local recycling center that works with plastic and requesting a tour to answer all of your questions. Most centers are more than happy to accommodate your request.
Recycling Plastic Bags Specific links
Recycling Plastic Bags News
Single-use plastic bag ban OKd - Coastline Pilot
Single-use plastic bag ban OKd Coastline Pilot The City Council on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to an ordinance that will ban retail establishments from packing merchandise in recyclable plastic bags that environmentalists contend damage the environment and its denizens. Laguna Beach, Dana Point vote to ban plastic bags Plastic Bag Ban Coming Absolutely Positively Eventually Soon, Probably! Laguna Beach, Dana Point councils OK plastic bag ban |
Recycling rate for non-bottle rigid plastics shows impressive gain - Plastics News
 Environmental Leader | Recycling rate for non-bottle rigid plastics shows impressive gain Plastics News The rigid plastics report is the second from ACC this week to report improvement in a specific category of plastics recycling. Two days ago, ACC reported that the amount of plastic bags and film recycled in 2010 increased by 14 percent to 971.8 million ... Plastic Bag Recycling Report Sparks Debate Recycling of Plastic Bags and Wraps Climbs 50 Percent in Five Years County Passes Program to Increase Plastic Recycling |
Should Plastic Bags Be Banned? - New York Times
Should Plastic Bags Be Banned? New York Times AUSTIN, TEXAS — Will banning plastic shopping bags make the roadways and oceans cleaner? Or will it merely annoy shoppers and harm factories that use recycled bags to make things like fence posts? Those were among the questions being fiercely debated ... |
San Francisco expands plastic-bag ban; mayor expresses support for proposal - Washington Post
 San Francisco Chronicle | San Francisco expands plastic-bag ban; mayor expresses support for proposal Washington Post SAN FRANCISCO — Shoppers in San Francisco will have to pay 10 cents per bag and more retailers are now banned from handing out plastic bags under a proposal approved Tuesday by the city's Board of Supervisors. San Francisco already bans large grocery ... Most Businesses Happy to Throw Out Plastic Bags S.F. mayor backs stricter ban on plastic bags San Francisco Bans Plastic Bags |
Plastic Bag Ban Starts Wednesday - Patch.com
Plastic Bag Ban Starts Wednesday Patch.com By Taylor K. Vecsey Waldbaum's employees show off the recyclable bags for sale at the East Hampton location, which will no longer use plastic bags since the village law banning them takes effect on Wednesday. Wednesday is the first day of the plastic ... |