When it comes to real solutions for managing plastic waste, mechanical recycling is currently the most effective and accessible approach. This established process enables the recovery, processing, and transformation of post-consumer plastics into new secondary raw materials. These materials can then be reintroduced into the production cycle to create new products, packaging solutions, or industrial components.
How Mechanical Recycling Works
The process of mechanical recycling is simple and effective. First, plastic waste is collected separately and subsequently directed to sorting facilities, where it is categorized according to specific criteria, such as type and colour. Following this sorting phase, the selected materials undergo thorough washing, shredding, and grinding, resulting in flakes or granules. These granules then serve as new raw materials in various industrial applications, preserving their fundamental structural integrity.
This characteristic differentiates mechanical recycling from chemical recycling, which breaks down polymers into base molecules before rebuilding them. As a result, mechanical recycling requires less energy and is easier to implement.
Why Mechanical Recycling is a Sustainable Solution
Mechanical recycling offers several significant advantages:
- Low Energy Impact: It consumes less energy compared to the production of virgin plastics and other waste treatment technologies, helping to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
- Reduced Emissions: Mechanical recycling significantly lowers CO₂ and other greenhouse gas emissions, contributing positively to the fight against climate change.
- Existing Infrastructure: This method relies on widespread, proven facilities, making the technology operational and profitable.
- High Efficiency: By implementing effective separate collection and sorting practices, it is possible to produce high-quality secondary raw materials that exhibit excellent processability and compatibility with various industries.
What Can Be Obtained Through Mechanical Recycling?
Recycled plastics have a wide range of applications that are constantly expanding. Here are some examples:
- New bottles and containers made of recycled PET that are food-safe and sustainable.
- Secondary packaging for household products, detergents, and cosmetics.
- Textile fibers to manufacture sportswear and technical clothing, backpacks, shoes, and furniture.
- Automotive components, insulation materials, street furniture, pallets, crates, vases, and more everyday items.
In short, what was once considered waste is transformed into a valuable resource for new production processes!
Resources, not waste!
The mechanical recycling approach aligns perfectly with the principles of a circular economy. When plastic is managed effectively, it transforms from an environmental problem into a valuable raw material that can be used efficiently. Instead of ending up in landfills or being dispersed in the environment, plastic can be repurposed, significantly reducing its environmental impact and decreasing the need for virgin plastic production.
It is crucial to educate citizens and businesses about this vision: every plastic item has the potential to undergo multiple life cycles when managed correctly.
Innovation and Future
Mechanical recycling technologies are making significant advancements. New automatic sorting systems with optical sensors, advanced decontamination methods, and low-temperature extrusion techniques are improving process efficiency. These innovations enable the processing of mixed and more complex plastics, which improves the overall effectiveness of the recycling system daily.
The industrial sectors that choose to use recycled plastics in their production processes are growing, driven by European regulations that advocate for a circular economy and by an increasing awareness among consumers.
Investing in mechanical recycling represents a commitment to a well-established, economically viable, and efficient technology. It offers a reliable and tangible solution to the ecological challenges we currently face and those we will encounter in the future.