Which Performance Plastic Materials are Recyclable?
Many performance plastic materials are recyclable, with common examples including PET (Polyester), HDPE, PVC, LDPE, Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Acrylic, fiberglass, Polycarbonate, and ABS. Over the last 50 years, plastic disposal has grown significantly, but since the mid-1990s, plastic recycling has become more advanced. New technologies and increased awareness, along with improved curbside containers and designated recycling stations, have made it easier to reuse these materials, saving money, energy, and helping the environment.
Some of the main plastics which can be recyclable are:
Polyester or PET carries the number 1 symbol. This plastic is primarily used for soft drink bottles. It is the easiest to recycle plastic and can be reground and reused time and time again.
The plastic with the number 2 symbol on it is HDPE which is a plastic primarily used for grocery bags, milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles.
PVC has the number 3 symbol and is used for pipes, fences and non-food containers.
LDPE is number 4 and is used for tubing, caps, rings and shrink wrap (coffee can lids).
Polypropylene has the number 5 symbol and its uses are for automotive parts, food containers and dishware.
Polystyrene is number 6 and is used for food containers and cups (including Styrofoam).
7 is other material such as Acrylic, fiberglass and Polycarbonate. These plastics are used for lenses, glasses and shields.
ABS is the number 9 symbol and is used in automotive, model building and molded parts.
What are the challenges in plastic recycling and which plastics are not recyclable?
The biggest challenges in plastic recycling include the meticulous sorting required and the existence of thermoset plastics, which are not recyclable. While many schools and organizations collect materials, the complexity of sorting led to the 1988 resin identification coding system to improve efficiency. Thermosets, unlike thermoplastics, cannot return to their original form once heated, with Phenolic (Bakelite) being a prime example used for electrical and mechanical purposes. Despite being non-recyclable, thermosets often replace more expensive materials and offer significant longevity, reducing natural resource usage and carbon footprint, as seen with Nylon bushings in ships outperforming bronze.
There are, however, some plastics that cannot be recycled. These plastics are called thermosets, which are plastics that cannot return to their original form. The best example of this type of plastic is Phenolic which was the first commercially available plastic back in 1907, and was originally called Bakelite. It is primarily used for electrical and mechanical purposes. Unlike thermoplastics which can be formed and returned to their original shape, thermosets cannot due to their chemical makeup and they frequently have additives or fillers. Thermosets form above the melting temperature so when they are heated, the decomposition temperature is reached before the melt point.
Many of these thermoset materials replace other, much more expensive materials, and generally out last the former material by as much as 20 times. In practice, these material reduce the usage of natural resources and the ‘carbon footprint’ used to produce the items. One such material is the Nylon bushings used in large ships. The Nylon replaces a large Bronze bushing that used to be replaced once a year, and required the ship be put into dry dock to remove and replace the bushing. The new Nylon bushings out perform the bronze, and will last over 12 times longer. Dramatic savings in materials, casting new bronze bushing and the loss of sailing time of these ships.
How have recycling improvements impacted performance plastic materials?
Thanks to recycling improvements in the last 30 years, recycling has become much more efficient. Because of these programs better care has been taken to insure that plastic is not littered or discarded lightly, and that the programs created are easily accessible so people can take better care of their trash and better care of the earth. Plastics manufacturer commonly work to reuse and recycle materials during production. Many performance plastic materials are available as ‘reprocessed’ or ‘commercial grade’ materials, meaning they contain a percentage of material that has been processed before. The first time a plastic resin is sent through the manufacturing process, that resin is referred to as ‘virgin resin’. Any further processing, the material must be referred to as reprocessed.
Recycling improvements over the last 30 years have significantly impacted performance plastic materials by making recycling much more efficient and promoting the use of 'reprocessed' or 'commercial grade' materials. These programs ensure plastics are not littered and are easily accessible for proper disposal. Manufacturers commonly reuse and recycle materials during production, with 'reprocessed' materials containing a percentage of previously processed resin, distinct from 'virgin resin' which is plastic resin sent through manufacturing for the first time. For more information on plastic recycling or specific material questions, contact us at 866-832-9315.
