Plastic Bag Recycling Process Complete Guide

Plastic bags are one of the most commonly used forms of packaging in the world. They are cheap to produce and easy to use, but they also have a significant environmental impact.

In the United States alone, over 100 billion plastic bags are used each year, and less than 5% of them are recycled.

Most plastic bags are made from low-density polyethene (LDPE), which is a type of plastic that is not biodegradable.

This means that it does not break down and decompose naturally in the environment.

Instead, it slowly accumulates in landfills and oceans, where it can take hundreds of years to decompose.

Plastic bags also pose a threat to wildlife, it is also known as a deadly waste material over the years.

But now the rate at which plastic bags can be found there is limited. 

Thanks to the plastic bag recycling near me.

However, In this article, you will know about the process involved in getting your plastic bags recyclable.

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Plastic Bags Recycling Process Complete Guide

There are different stages when it comes to recycling plastic bags, and these stages will be explained carefully here;

Step 1. The Collecting Stage

The first step in the recycling process for plastic bags is the collection stage, and it’s also the most important step in the recycling process.

This is where all the plastic bags are gathered together so that they can be recycled. This stage can be done in a few different ways. 

One way is to have people collect the bags from stores, homes, and other places where they are used.

This can be done through a recycling program or a waste management program.

Another way to collect the bags is to have people bring them to a recycling centre.

This can be done by using a drop-off location or by using a pick-up service.

The collection stage is necessary to ensure that the plastic bags are recycled in an environmentally friendly manner.

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Step 2. The Selecting Stage

The second step in the recycling process for plastic bags is the selecting stage.

This is where the bags are selected in different colors and prepared for the next step.

 This stage includes a visual inspection of the bags to check for tears, rips, or other damage, as well as a check for the presence of dirt, food, or other contaminants.

Only bags that are free of damage and contaminants are recycled, as this helps to ensure the quality of the recycled product. 

The first step in the selecting stage is removing non-recyclable materials from the bags.

This includes removing any materials that are not plastic, such as metal or paper.

Non-recyclable materials can contaminate the recycling process and reduce the quality of recycled plastic bags. 

The second step in the selecting stage is sorting the bags by colour.

This is necessary because the recycling process relies on different colours of plastic to be sorted and melted down into new plastic bags.

The last step in the selection stage is the cleaning of the plastic bags.

The bags are cleaned with a machine that removes any food or dirt particles.

The machine also removes the labels from the bags.

The selection stage of recycling plastic bags is important to ensure that only high-quality bags are recycled.

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Step 3. The Recycling Stage

The recycling stage is the last stage when it comes to plastic bag recycling.

However, there are a few different ways to recycle plastic bags, and each recycling company may have a different preference.

However, here I will show you the most used recycling process used by these companies.

At this stage, there are several processes involved, which include:

1. Plastic bags have been chopped into small pieces.

2. They are heated until they are liquefied.

3. And lastly, they are molded into a new bag or another product.

The Chopping Process

After the various stages, the first process of the recycling stage usually starts with the bags being chopped into smaller pieces. 

This process is done so that the bags can be more easily sorted and cleaned.

After being chopped into pieces, the bags are usually put through a machine that separates the different types of plastics.

This machine uses a series of filters to sort the plastic by color and type. 

After being sorted, the different types of plastic are usually melted down, which brings us to the next process.

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The Heating Process

The second process of the recycling stage is the heating process.

In this process, plastic bags are heated until they are liquefied for recycling so they can break them down into their parts and can be reused.

The heat breaks the plastic down into small molecules that can be easily separated and purified.

This is done to break down the polymer chains that make up the plastic bag.

Once the polymer chains are broken down, the plastic can be reformed into new products.

This process is necessary to recycle plastic bags because they are made of multiple types of plastics, which cannot be easily separated without breaking them down into their parts.

The Moulding Process

The moulding process is the last when it comes to the recycling stage of plastic bags. 

At this stage, plastic bags are being processed and moulded to form a new product or another form of plastic bag.

This process uses a mould to create the shape of the bag, and then the plastic is injected into the mould to create the bag.

This process is used to create the majority of plastic bags and other plastic products that are used today.

And finally, I hope this article has given you a great insight into how plastic bags are recycled, and if there are any other questions you can ask in the comment section below.

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