Recycled plastic and recycling technology drive circular economy

In a world of increasing pollution and resource depletion, plastic use and recycling have become an important issue for the international community. Recycled plastic is one of the effective solutions to reduce the spread of plastic waste into the environment as well as make use of recycled resources. However, producing recycled plastic requires the use of advanced technologies and machines, including crushers, grinders, and recycled plastic production lines. This article will learn about recycled plastics, how to use them, the most modern recycled plastic production technologies and machinery, and explore the latest advances in the field.

1. What is recycled plastic?

Recycled plastic is a product produced from plastic waste collected from many different sources, then sorted, washed, melted and recycled to create completely new plastic products. The use of recycled plastic products can reduce a large amount of plastic waste and contribute positively to environmental protection. However, not all plastics can be recycled because each type of item is made from different types of plastic and may require a complex and expensive recycling process. Therefore, plastic recycling requires technological investment and a scientific recycling process to help minimize negative environmental impact.

2. Why use recycled plastic

Recycled plastic is considered an important solution in reducing the amount of plastic waste and protecting the environment. The use of recycled plastic has many significant benefits, especially in the current context, when we are facing serious environmental pollution and the impact of climate change.

First, using recycled plastic helps to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated, helps reduce the load on the waste management system and minimizes the amount of waste dumped into the sea and land. This has important implications for protecting the environment and minimizing the impact of waste on human and animal life.

Second, using recycled plastic saves natural resources.  Producing recycled plastics  uses fewer resources than producing new plastics from petroleum feedstocks, which minimizes greenhouse gas emissions arising from production and transportation.

Third, using recycled plastic helps reduce production costs. Recycled plastic is often produced at a lower cost than new plastic, so using recycled plastic can help reduce production costs for companies and individuals who use plastic.

Finally, using recycled plastic also brings many economic and social benefits. Producing and using recycled plastic helps create many jobs for workers, while creating many business opportunities for businesses, especially in the field of plastic waste treatment and recycling.

3. Recycled plastics

There are 7 types of plastic that are recycled and common in recycling engineering, including PETE, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, and several others.

· PETE (Polyethylene Terephthalate): PETE is commonly used for packaged water bottles, plastic jars, and milk jugs. PETE recycled plastic can be used to make floor mats, clothing, bags and many other products.

· HDPE (High-density Polyethylene): HDPE is commonly used for lubricant bottles, milk bottles and perfume bottles. HDPE recycled plastic can be used to make milk bottles, children’s toys, plumbing and other plastic products.

· PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): PVC is commonly used for plumbing, wall cladding and other plastic products. However, PVC is one of the most difficult plastics to recycle and is not used in recycled plastic products much.

· LDPE (Low-density Polyethylene): LDPE is commonly used for plastic bags, food bags and food wrap. LDPE recycled plastic can be used to manufacture air ducts, car liners and other plastic products.

· PP (Polypropylene): PP is commonly used for food bags, milk bottles, and product packaging. PP recycled plastic can be used to manufacture feet, containers, storage containers and other plastic products.

· PS (Polystyrene): PS is commonly used for plastic cups, food containers, and other plastic products. PS recycled plastic can be used to manufacture frames, cutting tables, and other plastic products.

· Other: This type includes other plastics that do not fall into the above 6 categories. They can be certain types of plastic that are difficult to recycle or can be used to manufacture specialty plastic products.

These plastics can be classified through plastic symbols, namely codes 1 to 7 marked on plastic products. The recycling of these plastics helps reduce the amount of waste, protect the environment and create new products that are more environmentally friendly. However, different types of plastic have distinct properties and properties, so the recycling process also varies from type to type.

4. What machines are used to recycle plastic?

The recycling of plastic is a complex process and requires the use of many different types of machines to do it. Here are some  commonly used recycled plastic-making machines:

Recycled plastic crusher: This machine is used to grind hard plastic sheets into smaller granules, for easy recycling.

Plastic washing machine: After separating and grinding the plastic, these plastic particles will be washed to remove dirt, impurities, and residual harmful chemicals. Plastic washers are often used in this process.

Plastic Recycling Machine: This machine uses techniques such as calcining, pressing, and extrusion to create new recycled plastic products. These products may include plastic bottles, bags, straws, toys, etc.

Quality Inspection Machine: This machine is used to check the quality of recycled plastic products, to ensure they meet the required quality standards before being put on the market.

However, the production process of recycled plastic also needs to be carried out carefully and in the right process, to ensure the quality of recycled plastic products and minimize negative impacts on the environment.

The production process of recycled plastic includes the following main steps:

Collection and sorting: People collect recycled plastic products and classify them by type, e.g. PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, etc.

· Screening and washing: Plastic products after being collected will be screened to remove impurities and washed to remove dust and dirt.

· Cut and grind: Once washed, plastic products are cut and ground into smaller pieces.

· Fine grinding: The pieces of plastic after being cut and ground will be ground more finely to prepare for the next step.

· Separation: The plastic pieces after being finely ground will be separated into separate components using methods such as color separation, form separation and impurity separation.

· Refining and packaging: The separated plastic products are refined and packaged back to be used for other manufacturing purposes.

Recycling plastic helps reduce the amount of waste and protect the environment, while also saving resources and production costs.

5. The latest recycled plastic production technologies

Advanced plastic recycling trends will continue to grow in 2023. Here are the top 8 trends to watch out:

• Pyrolysis: Pyrolysis technology uses high temperatures to break down plastics into valuable substances, making plastic recycling more efficient.
• Innovative depolymerization: This technology helps break polymer bonds in plastics, allowing them to be recycled into new products.
• Advanced mechanical recycling: Advanced mechanical recycling technology uses modern machinery and equipment to separate components of plastics and reuse them.
• Automated Recycling: Use automated systems to sort and recycle plastics quickly and efficiently.
• Advanced chemical recycling: Advanced chemical recycling technology uses a chemical reaction to separate the components of plastics and reuse them.
• Plastic traceability: This technology helps track the origin of plastic from production to recycling, helping to ensure environmental protection and minimize risks for consumers.
• Solvent-based recycling: Solvent-based recycling technology uses dissolved substances to separate components of plastics and reuses them.
• Advanced gasification: Advanced gasification technology uses gas to separate components of plastics and reuse them, which minimizes waste and protects the environment

6. Summary

Plastic recycling is an important area in protecting the environment and reducing the amount of plastic waste. Currently, there are many newly developed recycled plastic production technologies,  including trends such as pyrolysis, innovative depolymerization, advanced mechanical recycling, automatic recycling, advanced gasification, plastic traceability, and solvent-based recycling.

With these trends in mind, WRV 2023 will be a place for companies, researchers and experts in the field of plastic recycling to present and showcase their latest products and technologies. WRV 2023 (Waste & Recycling Expo Vietnam 2023) is a major event in the field of water treatment and recycling in Vietnam. The event will be organized by RX Tradex, one of the leading exhibition organizers in Vietnam.

This exhibition will provide a forum for experts and businesses in the industry to converge, exchange and discuss the latest solutions to protect the environment and water resources. WRV 2023 is expected to be home to advanced water treatment technologies and the latest plastic recycling technologies, and will play an important role in promoting the sustainable development of Vietnam and the world.