Plastic
Plastic recycling can have benefits, however it is a difficult material to recycle.
Facts and figures
Plastics are one of the most complicated materials to recycle;
360 million plastic bottles were recycled in 2002, whilst 9.1 billion were disposed of;
The average sales value of sorted baled bottles over the last five year period has been £123 per tonne;
- Each year supermarkets give an estimated 17.5 billion plastic bags away. That’s 290 per person in UK!
What are the benefits of recycling plastic?
Plastic is made from oil, a fossil fuel that will run out. Where possible we shouldn’t continue to use fossil fuels if the facilities exist to recycle materials that we already have. Also reducing the amount of plastic sent to landfill will reduce the volume of waste buried because plastic takes up a lot of space due to its bulky nature.
Identifying different types of plastics
Plastics are a man-made substance. Simple and identical molecules (originating from oil) are joined together to produce long chains called polymers. It is possible to produce many different types of polymers and therefore plastics. Each type of plastic has distinct characteristics and qualities that determine how it’s used.
For identification purposes, most plastic products carry an embossed triangle on the base, containing a particular identification number. The characteristics and uses of the three most readily recyclable plastics (plastic bottles) are detailed below.
Type of plastic | Symbol | Characteristics and uses |
|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Number 1 |  | Fizzy drinks bottles. Clear or tinted in colour. ‘Flower shaped’ base to help the bottle cope with the pressure of fizzy drinks. |
| High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Number 2 |  | Milk, juice and detergent bottles. Opaque or lightly coloured. The two halves of the container are stuck together making HDPE unsuitable for containing liquids under pressure. |
| Polyvinyl Chloride (V) Number 3 |  | Clear squash bottles. Generally large with a handle. Often have a ‘smile’ on the bottom and a seam around the edge. |
In total there are six specific types of plastic. Many more are made from blended polymers, these are all labelled with a number seven.
Plastic bottle recycling guidance
Plastic bottle recycling banks have now been installed around the borough (see the recycling sites page). Only plastic bottles are accepted, no other types of plastic. We are looking to collect those labelled with a 1, 2 or 3. These include plastic bottles like milk containers, squash bottles, pop bottles, shampoo bottles etc, see above.
Please rinse the bottles, remember to remove bottle lids and carefully squash the bottles so they occupy less space in the bank. Plastic carrier bags can be recycled at some supermarkets, or even better reject plastic bags and use reusable bags.
What happens to the plastic bottles we collect
| The plastic bottles are bulked up and baled locally and sent on to a reprocessor. The bottles undergo a sorting procedure where they are separated into their different types. This is usually done manually by trained staff. However technology is being introduced to sort plastics automatically using techniques such as infrared imaging. |  |
The plastic is flaked and turned into pellets for companies to make new products. Reprocessors then reheat the pellets and force the melted plastic into a mould under pressure. Brand new products of all shapes and sizes are formed including plant pots, bins, water butts, garden furniture, drain pipes, and new plastic bottles! |  |