Recycling Industrial Plastic: Why Is It Important?

The demand for plastic in industrial applications has been increasing. Major developments are happening in the composition and use of plastics to make them more suitable for the industrial sectors. Industrial plastics are becoming popular in electrical, electronics, automobile, healthcare, and many other sectors due to their durability, lightweight, and cost-effectiveness. Industrial plastic manufacturers are working on raw material development, process improvement, and capacity expansion to meet the growing market demand for industrial plastics. The recent developments in recycling technology have introduced better quality plastic products with more strength, lightweight, and durability resulting in better efficiency.

The Market for Industrial Plastics

The market for industrial plastic is growing due to increased application in the transportation sector, electric and electronic components, building materials, and packaging. Industrial plastics have properties comparable to metal because they are moldable and exhibit superior mechanical properties. The objective of weight reduction in passenger cars and heavy-duty vehicles is effectively achieved by industrial plastics applications. The use of industrial plastics in construction materials also offers several benefits. It can be modified to suit the structural design as required in making windows, wall panels, roof domes, and others. 

The growing infrastructure development and emerging economies in different countries around the world increase the demand for industrial plastics and expand the market giving a competitive edge to the leading manufacturers. 

Many industrial plastic manufacturers are going for acquisition and partnership for raw material and process development. Mergers and joint ventures are important strategies adopted by companies to improve their production capacity and gain a better market position. 

Technological advancements, innovations, and research are carried out to find new ways of the recycled product’s application which also increases the demand for industrial plastics.

Related: Why Big Companies Should Invest in Sustainable and Innovative Plastic Alternatives?

Recycling of Industrial Plastic

Most plastic wastes are non-biodegradable so there is a need to find out methods by which scrap plastics are collected, processed, and modified to form many other products for use. This process is called the recycling of plastics. Recycling is a vital step in dealing with the growing plastic pollution happening around us due to plastic waste generated from various sources. 

Plastic recycling helps reduce the burden of plastic waste in landfills and water streams and thereby addressing the problem of plastic pollution effectively. Not all plastics are recyclable so the recycling of industrial plastic waste requires careful selection of plastic for collection and processing. The suitability of industrial plastic waste for recycling depends on how efficiently and profitably it can be recycled and prepare products for buyers. Plastic recycling generally involves the following steps:

• Collection: This process involves the collection of plastic waste in different forms
• Sorting: Plastics are sorted to segregate them according to the recycling process to be used
• Compacting and washing: Plastics are compacted by pressure and washed thoroughly to remove non-plastic components and impurities.
• Resizing: Plastics are resized into small particles for ease of processing and transport.
• Melting: The dry plastic pieces are melted down and molded to new shapes.
• Making of pallets: Plastic is made in the form of pallets which can be reused or redesigned for new products in manufacturing facilities.

Innovative and advanced plastic recycling technology aims to maintain the quality of recycled plastic after reprocessing. The modern methods of recycling allow the breaking of plastic into different raw materials with quality and property similar to virgin materials.

 Innovations in Industrial Plastic Recycling

Technical experts are working on developing systems and procedures that would make plastic recycling more convenient, efficient, and cost-effective. Some of these technologies include the use of reliable detectors supported by sophisticated recognition software that accurately sort out plastic waste. 

The technology also helps to determine the high-value applications of recycled products and decide on appropriate recycling techniques to make products that have a good market demand. Presently, only PET, HDPE, and PVC plastic products are recycled whereas PS, PP, and LDPE are not recycled because of the difficulty in processing and also higher cost involvement. 

The recent improvements in washing and sorting technologies also make the recycling of non-bottle plastic packaging materials feasible. Organizations are investing in scientific research and development to increase the effectiveness and operational efficiency of recycling operations. The recycling mechanism of industrial plastics covers a wide range of post-consumption plastic waste that is diverted from going into landfills and water streams.