360: Recycling Plastic Bottles
by Amanda Wills
Published on June 8th, 2009
22 Comments
Earth911’s 360 series breaks down the ins and outs of your everyday items.
Above your washing machine, under your kitchen sink or in your refrigerator, plastic bottles are all around us. Americans buy an estimated 28 billion plastic water bottles every year, and nearly eight out of every 10 of those bottles will end up in a landfill, translating to about a 23 percent recycling rate. Furthermore, it’s estimated that the production of plastic accounts for 4 percent of the energy consumption in the U.S.
So let’s get down to the nitty gritty of recycling: How should you do it? And what can those plastic bottles be made in to? Here’s everything you’ve wanted to know about recycling plastic bottles.
According to the American Chemistry Council, there are 74 post-consumer plastics recycling companies that focus on plastic bottle recycling. Twenty of these companies recycle PET bottles and fifty-eight companies recycle HDPE bottles. Four of the companies process both resins. Photo: Keetsa.com
Top 10 Reasons to Recycle Plastic Bottles
1. Shed some light on the issue.
Recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a 60-watt light bulb for up to six hours.
2. It’s a growing demand.
According to the EPA, the amount of plastics generation in municipal solid waste has increased from less than 1 percent in 1960 to 12.1 percent in 2007.
3. Get a creative boost.
Recycled plastic bottles can be made into products such as clothing, carpeting, detergent bottles and lumber for outdoor decking.
4. Walk it out.
More than 80 percent of U.S. households have access to a plastics recycling program, be it curbside or community drop-off centers.
5. Get on the bandwagon.
In recent years, the number of U.S. plastics recycling business has nearly tripled. More than 1,600 businesses are involved in recycling post-consumer plastics.
6. Make room.
Recycling one ton of plastic saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space.
7. It’s getting hotter.
Recycling one pound of PET plastic bottles saves approximately 12,000 BTUs (British thermal unit) of heat energy.
8. Reduce the use.
Producing new plastic products from recycled materials uses two-thirds less energy than is required to make products from raw (virgin) materials. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
9. Salvage what’s left.
According to the EPA, while overall recovery of plastics for recycling is relatively small – 2.1 million – recovery of some plastic containers has reached higher levels. PET soft drink bottles were recovered at a rate of 37 percent in 2007. Recovery of HDPE milk and water bottles was estimated at about 28 percent in 2007.
10. Push it forward.
Plastics are a rapidly growing segment of the municipal solid waste stream. The largest category of plastics are found in containers and packaging (e.g., soft drink bottles, lids, shampoo bottles).
Tips on Recycling
According to the Container Recycling Institute, more than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators daily. So, think before you trash that empty water bottle. Here are a couple of reminders for recycling plastic bottles.
- Check plastic bottle types and numbers. Make sure to find out which plastic bottles are accepted for recycling in your area. Many programs collect plastic bottles made from PET (#1) and HDPE (#2), which together represent almost 96 percent of all plastic bottles produced in the U.S., including milk jogs, water, soft drink, juice bottles, shampoo, toiletries, laundry detergent, household cleaners, salad dressings and other food jars.
- Rinse bottles before tossing them into the bin. Labels are also generally okay. While it has always been recommended to remove bottle caps, keep the cap on unless specifically noted otherwise in your curbside program. Make sure to not throw the cap in separately as it may get lost in the transportation process and become litter.
- Bring it home. When you’re out and about and have a plastic bottle, bring it home for recycling if there are no recycling options around you. Simply leave it in your car, purse or briefcase.
- When in doubt, leave it out. In addition to bottles, a growing number of communities are collecting and recycling plastic containers, such as tubs, trays and lids. But keep in mind that mixing the wrong types of materials can lower the quality of the recycled material. So make sure you understand what types of containers your program accepts.
The Recycling Process
1. After bottles are collected, they are taken to a materials recovery facility (MRF) where they are condensed into large bales for shipping. Each bale weighs from 800 to 1,200 pounds and can contain any where from 6,400 to 9,600 beverage, food and/or non‐food bottles.
2. Bales are shipped to a plastic reclaimer where a machine called a bale breaker rips apart the bales. The pieces then go through a machine where they are shredded into tiny flakes.
3. The flakes are then washed, dried and melted.
4. The melted plastic is extruded into pellets which are sold to end markets and can be developed into various plastic products.
5. In many PET applications the plastic is spun into a very fine thread-like material. This can be used to make carpets, clothing or filling for jackets and quilts. The thin plastic has good insulation properties. For plastics such as HPDE, PP or other resins, the pellets are melted and extruded into plastic lumber or pipe, and can be further blowmolded into plastic bottles, or injection
molded or thermoformed into plastic containers, garden products, sheet and packaging.
What’s Next?
More and more manufactures are coming up with new ways to use post-consumer plastic. From kayaks and park benches to school lunch trays and railroad ties, there are recycled plastics all around us.
According to the American Chemistry Council, a recent study from Europe shows that, across various market sectors, using plastics instead of alternative materials helps to reduce energy use by 26 percent and greenhouse gas emissions by 56 percent.
In the U.S., 70 percent of plastics are made from domestic natural gas. By recycling plastics, we make that energy available for new products or for other purposes like heating and cooling our homes. For example, over 4 billion pounds of plastics were recycled in the U.S. in 2006, saving enough energy to heat over 2.1 million homes.
In short, recycling your plastic bottle not only saves landfill space, but it also creates a new product more efficiently. It’s a true investment in the product you’re purchasing: It’s not just a Diet Coke alongside your sandwich on your lunch break. It’s a new pullover fleece or carpeting for your home. Now that’s the epitome of product stewardship.
- (03/03/2009). "Plastics Recycling in the United States" American Chemistry Council
- (09/01/2008). "Recycling Plastic Bottles" American Chemistry Council
- (11/06/2008). "Common Wastes and Materials: Plastics" U.S. Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov/wastes/conserve/materials/plastics.htm#markets.
- http://www.recycle-more.co.uk/nav/page687.aspx.
Chris Todd
posted on June 9th, 2009 at 3:03 am
Dear Amanda,
I am an agent for a New Zealand Company for the selling of a machine that grinds up all Plastics ( No 1 to No 7)
washes, dries, compresses into moulds to make useful products again…Blocks (like concrete vibrated blocks which are used for buildings,) ( they are not to be used to build houses) Street Bollards, Curbing, Pallets, Sheets etc…etc.
Please visit ” Youtube” and type in “Byfusion”… The DVD is in 3 parts… demonstration of machine, Building of a wall, and testing for compression .
The machine shown can use 10 tonne of plastic per 8 hour working day… There is another being developed that can use 12 tonne per day and that will fit into a 40ft Container..
We believe a city the size of 500,000 people will use and waste 10 tonne of plastic per day..
With This machine we are really starting to get a lot of interest in since I started to sell …from the 1st May we have had interest from…. Dubai, UK, Argentins, Brazil, Ohio USA, Pakistan and the UK.
We believe a city the size of 500,000 people will use 10 tonne of plastic per day…
If you would like to know anymore please ask.
Thankyou,
Best Reagrds,
Chris Todd.
Trey Granger
posted on June 9th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I would add another reason to recycle plastic bottles: they are lighter than other types of containers. This makes them more prone to blow out of landfills and back into the environment. I see way more plastic products along the beach than aluminum or glass.
Lynn Bray
posted on June 10th, 2009 at 6:43 am
I have some great ideas in reusing plastic bottles… The product that I make from water bottles can be used year after year and they are really nice. Does anyone know where I can sell such items ???Please HELP!!
GREAT RECYLE IDEAS in NEW JERSEY !!!!!
Linda Adams
posted on June 10th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
FIRST – REDUCE – Please do NOT buy water in plastic, use a stainless bottle with tap water.
BACK TO TAP!
Luis Felipe Trigo Boix
posted on June 10th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
When talking about the recycle process, “washing” is mentioned.
How are PET flakes washed?
Is it just water? o some detergent needs to be added? or some chemical needs to be added?
Any information about this will be appreciated.
Heather G
posted on June 10th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
Ok, this may be a silly question but it’s something I thought of a while ago and have been thinking of ever since. Since second in the recycling list is to resue, why can’t plastic bottles be collected and sent back to the respective companies for reuse? Now I’m not talking about food containers and soda bottles and that sort of thing. That just seems unsanitary. I’m talking about laundry detergent, fabric softners, household cleaners, bleach, that sort of thing. It couldn’t cost any more to ship the bottles back than it does to make new. They are not used for food products or anything like that so what would be wrong with cleaning them out, refilling them and putting them back on the shelves? I’m not a financial guru or anything but it seems to me that doing this would let them take in a bigger profit, not to mention keeping the bottles out of landfills and you don’t have to do anything but maybe clean them up a bit to ‘recycle’ them.
I may be way off base with this but I can’t help but wonder about it every time I do laundry or clean my house.
christie
posted on June 10th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
ok pour faire attention à ne pas consommer d’eau en bouteille plastique
par contre quel est l’impact écologique d’utiliser des recharches pour filtrer l’eau???
cordialement
christie
Linda
posted on June 11th, 2009 at 11:16 am
what about the other 7-8%?
Liz Amason
posted on June 12th, 2009 at 2:51 am
Great information. Passed along on my Facebook & Twitter.
John Schermerhorn
posted on June 14th, 2009 at 7:33 am
Educating the public seems to be a key component with this recycling issue. I remember the beginnings of a similar movement supported by Lady Bird Johnson and her campaign against litter (which could use a little resurgence). I enjoy the many comments and the excited enthusiasm expressed by my young school friends about how they are currently learning how to recycle and compost as well as learning environmental awareness in their school communities. I also like the idea that some school districts and Montessori systems support by restricting or eliminating the use of plastic bottles in schools and by providing viable long term reuse solutions and options. The excitement of conservation and environmental awareness is easily generated with our young and that knowledge is brought home to the Parents and Grandparents and Community as a whole. We all should aggressively support any educational facility system that include in their curriculums this type of simple, hands on, fun and forward thinking awareness for our world and our environment. Who better than our young future builders to positively alter the way we live!
Princess Ezeuzoh-Ngwu
posted on June 18th, 2009 at 5:12 am
Good Work Chris Todd and Lynn Bray, Please tell me more about your products we may need them to fight ever increasing PET bottle waste. Do contact me please with these bright ideas something good may happen to waste after all. I expect your mails especially about any smart way to treat any waste. Thanks in anticipation. email: asso4wasterecovery@yahoo.com
Cheree Owens
posted on July 23rd, 2009 at 8:32 pm
I am looking for a recycling factory in a non recycling state that will give or sell to me plastic bottles by the pound. I am even looking for a recycling factory where all the expired water, soda, etc go and are smashed in a bundle.
moxii.com Design Blog » think with us….
posted on July 31st, 2009 at 11:04 am
[...] rush out to the grocery store and go bottled water bananas. Every year the US, Americans buy about 28 billion water bottles, within which only about 23% gets recycled. Now lets be serious, for cokes we [...]
BK
posted on August 5th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I work for a steel mill in South Carolina and we recycle our plastic bottles by giving them to our local Harvest Hope Food Banks. The Harvest Hope Food Banks wash them out and fill them up with Laundry Detergent.
Murray Millander
posted on August 5th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
These bottles can be decomposed back to hydrogen and carbon monoxide, i.e. H and CO. The process is called gassification, and my company builds Gassification plants. We turn the bottle back into energy that can be used for making #2 bio diesel and electricity, big time.
Diana Mobley
posted on September 16th, 2009 at 9:57 am
What can you do with plastic prescription bottles? They are not #1 or #2 plastic. Can they be recycled and what about those child-proof caps that are on them? I’ve got hundreds of these things and I don’t know what to do with them.
seattle architect
posted on September 17th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
plastic bottles are a nuisance for sure, but if we need to keep using them for something….lets walk on it! carpet and pad is an awesome material (have it in my own house). enough with the plastics!
Johanne Mai B. Sunglao
posted on October 7th, 2009 at 2:08 am
I work in a PET Recycling facility and education is really the key in making any plastics recycling work. I find fullfilment that people are amazed that we can actually turn PET materials from landfills into food-grade PET resin for manufacture of PET bottles.
On another note, does anyone know (hi Amanda, hope you can help me on this) where I can get source for this (above article) ? “Recycling one pound of PET plastic bottles saves approximately 12,000 BTUs (British thermal unit) of heat energy.”
would appreciate to hear from you.
John Ritchie
posted on November 4th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Is there a company close to the eastern panhandle of WV that would take the recycled plastic bottles that we are collecting. We are presently sending them to a savage company. We would like to see them go directly to a recycling facility. Thanks John
NYC teacher
posted on January 2nd, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Plastic prescription bottles, which are #5 plastic, can be recycled. I know that Whole Foods provides recycle bins for #5 plastics in their stores. However, I have not yet found anywhere that takes the plastic lids from prescription containers.
missy
posted on January 12th, 2010 at 6:30 am
How can we recycle the plastic bottle caps?
alfred
posted on February 26th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
I’m in support of recycling and am looking to buy used water bottle in quantity. anyone knows any recycling facility which sells used plastic water bottle in california? thanks.