Plastic has become a major part of everyday life and is used for a diverse range of applications. However, this results in the generation of tons of plastic waste in India and a lack of a proper recycling system to manage it. The pollution caused by plastics is a pressing environmental concern and a major challenge to be tackled.
As a solution, effective plastic recycling can convert the existing plastic waste into new materials and products. Many recycling technologies support the recycling process, which helps conserve natural resources, protect the environment, lower carbon footprint, and much more.
You can read this article to learn more about the 3 top plastic recycling technologies to recycle plastic the right way.
An Overview of Plastic Recycling Technologies
As technology has evolved over the years, it is being used for the process of recycling plastic at an industrial scale. These technologies are utilized to convert discarded plastic waste from households and industries into useful products, which can be used again for various kinds of containers, packaging used for home care, hair care, personal care, fabric care, chemicals, lubricants, oils, and even food and beverages, and more.
The advanced technologies and innovative methods for plastic recycling have transformed the way plastics are discarded. It helps deal with the major plastic pollution that negatively affects the environment and the planet by producing consistent, clean, and compliant plastic resins. The resins are the molecular building blocks that are used as raw materials and have become an alternative and effective way to handle plastic waste.
The primary objective of emerging recycling technologies is a greener and more sustainable future through effective waste management techniques and procedures. Although various recycling methods exist, the integration of advanced technologies with the necessary machines has improved plastic recycling rates. It has reduced the amount of plastic waste found in landfills or leaked into rivers, seas, and oceans, which can harm the ecosystem.
The Top Plastic Recycling Technologies to Recycle Plastic
Numerous advanced recycling technologies have been developed to recycle plastic waste properly and responsibly. These technologies are a necessity to manage the recycling of the massive amount of plastic produced, used, and discarded on an everyday basis in India, one of the largest consumers of plastic. The use of advanced recycling technologies has limited the need for fossil resources and promotes a circular plastic economy to curb the plastic waste crisis in the nation.
The following are the top 3 plastic recycling technologies to recycle plastic —
Hot Wash
Hot washing is a technology that ensures the surfaces of the plastic materials are clean for further processing. It is a crucial part of the recycling process done on post-consumer plastics to eliminate surface contaminants for improved quality. The contaminants on the surfaces of the plastics include residues of oil, dirt, adhesives, labels, inks, paper fibre, grease, and more.
When the plastic products go through the hot wash technology, about 98% of the contaminants are removed. The hot wash system uses heat to loosen the surface tension of plastics and the contaminants. The PET flakes of plastic are rinsed and submerged in a boiling water bath with high temperatures from 60 to 90 degrees Celsius for clean-washed flakes.
Hot wash technology is necessary to remove impurities from plastics and produce PET resin flakes with a high level of cleanliness and purity. The intensive cleaning of the plastic with hot washing can enhance the overall quality of the resin flakes for specific purposes.
Scientific Recycling
Scientific recycling is used to optimize the plastic recycling process to produce high-quality recycled resin, which can be used for diverse applications. It is an effective way to limit the amount of plastic waste and reduce its carbon footprint without the need to create new plastic material, which has redefined and improved plastic recycling in the country.
After the plastic waste is washed and cleaned, the flakes are colour graded. This is achieved through colour mixing algorithms to ensure each production batch has a consistent colour to create the final plastic material and product. The scientific recycling method allows different types of plastic waste to be segregated with high accuracy to ensure uniform colour and material.
During scientific recycling, the volatile organic compounds are reduced to produce high-quality recycled resin using state-of-the-art extruders for gentle phase change, filtration, and reduction stages. The use of scientific recycling technologies and processes makes it possible to recycle an increased amount and type of plastics into products or packaging.
Deodorizer
One of the major issues when recycling plastic is the unpleasant smell lingering in the plastic caused by contaminants, food stored in the original packaging, solvent residue, and so on. The deodorizer technology is one of the final steps of the recycling process to tackle the issue of plastic waste, which can be made into something worthwhile.
In the deodorizer recycling technology, the plastic flakes are fed into the system to remove the organic compounds of the resins. This step is important to remove the unpleasant odours coming from the plastic materials with hot-air steam to produce high-quality recycled resins. It results in odour-free resin that appeals to companies and increases the demand for raw materials produced from plastic waste.
The US Food and Drug Association, commonly known as USFDA, has approved the deodorizer with a certification as part of the plastic recycling process to be used in food-related applications later. Removing the traces of odour of the plastic waste ensures the new recycled plastic material is considered suitable and gives it a second life. This plastic resin meets the necessary quality standards for various applications, even food-related packaging requirements.
Conclusion
These top 3 advanced recycling technologies are necessary to responsibly recycle plastic the right way. Technologies such as hot washing, scientific recycling, and deodorization enhance the quality of recycled plastic.
Banyan Nation is a leader in India’s circular economy for plastics, making significant strides in the sustainable recycling of plastics. As a top player in the bottle-to-bottle recycling industry, Banyan Nation employs advanced technologies to produce high-quality recycled polyethylene and polypropylene resins. These efforts align closely with the global push towards sustainable practices in plastic recycling, showcasing innovative methods to recycle plastic efficiently and responsibly.
