Understanding Plastic Recycling and HDPE!

Plastic recycling is essentially the collection of waste or scrap plastic and turning them into useful products again. Take note that the products might be totally different from its’ original state, an example would be a plastic bottle being recycled into toys, etc.

All plastic that can be recycled has a resin identification code and one of the most common forms of recycled plastic is High Density Polyethylene (or HDPE) which as a resin code of 2.

HDPE can be used for a wide variety of applications such as containers (think Tupperware, milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, etc), folding tables and chairs, plastic bags, natural gas distribution pipes, snowboard rails/boxes and refillable bottles.

In the process of recycling HDPE, scrap HDPE is produced. Scrap HDPE comes in many different forms and can also be used for many different purposes. Unfortunately, post-consumer HDPE (which is HDPE that has already been used as consumer goods and have been discarded) are being wasted every year by the thousands of tons. This is very detrimental to the environment, not to mention a perfect waste of a useful manufacturing material. Fortunately, there are companies out there which purchases scrap HDPE for further recycling.

If you’re interested to learn more about plastic recycling and HDPE, please visit HDPE Material.