What Plastics Are Currently Recycled in Large Quantities

6 What Plastics Are Currently Recycled in Large Quantities  

Our society is incredibly dependent on polymers in the form of plastics. Durable and lightweight, plastics are probably the most versatile synthetic materials in existence in fact, their current production in the United States exceeds that of steel. Plastics have come under criticism, however, for their role in the current trash crisis. They make up 21% of the volume and 8% of the weight of solid waste, most of which is derived from disposable packaging and wrapping. Of the 1.5 X 10 kg of thermoplastic materials produced in the United States per year, less than 2% is recycled. 

Six types of plastics are commonly used for packaging apphcations. In 1988, manufacturers adopted recycling code numbers developed by the Society of the Plastics Industry (Table 16.2). Because the plastics recycling industry stiU is not fully developed, only PET and HDPE are currently being recycled in large quantities. LDPE, which accounts for about 40% of plastic trash, has been slow in finding acceptance with recyclers. Facilities for the reprocessing of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) exist but are rare. 

The process for the recycling of most plastics is simple, with separation of the desired plastics from other contaminants the most labor-intensive step. For example, PET 

Some common products packaged in high-density polyethylene containers. 

---