WHAT DO THE NUMBERS 1 TO 7 ON PLASTIC PRODUCTS MEAN?

1. What do the numbers 1 to 7 on plastic products mean? If there is one highly usable material continuously rummaging the earth, it must be plastic. According to OECD reports, the world is producing twice the amount of plastic it used to in the last two decades. The sad part is that almost 91% of it leaks into landfills, meaning that only 9% of plastic goes into the Recycling Machines Recycling Machines. If we have a solution for the problems created by plastic, why do we still have to tackle plastic landfills? The reason is that we don't know the type of plastic that's usable and recyclable. This blog aims to inform you about the different kinds of plastic and their recyclability so that we can make an informed decision next time. How to Know Your Plastic Type? How to Know Your Plastic Type? If you flip the plastic package, you can see a small number inside a three- arrow triangle. The number can be from 1 to 7, and it indicates the types, uses and recyclability of the package. If you understand what each numeral denotes, it's easy to decide whether or not to purchase the specific product. Here we are explaining the number on each plastic package for you to make a conscious choice- Number 1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET) Number 1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET) PET is a robust form of plastic that is wrinkle-free and does not allow oxygen to enter the package and destroy the components inside; hence it's widely used for packing food and drinks. Some examples of PET packaging are single-use water bottles, peanut butter containers, salad dressing containers etc.

2. The PET packaging is recyclable, and a recycling machine can turn it into a variety of products such as carpets, soft furnishings, sleeping bags etc. Number 2: High Number 2: High- -density Polyethylene (HDPE) density Polyethylene (HDPE) HDPE is a stiff plastic that doesn't break down under the pressure of extreme temperatures and offers immense durability. Your detergent bottle, milk jugs, oil bottles, picnic tables, waste bins, park tables, etc., are HDPE plastic. It's also suitable for the recycling machine to build piping materials, rope, recycling bins etc. Number 3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Number 3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) PVC is a soft and flexible type of plastic. It is useful in manufacturing cooking oil bottled, blister packaging, plumbing materials, garden hose, and other household products. PVC is not a recyclable form of plastic and is also dangerous because it leaches toxins throughout its lifespan and spreads fatal diseases. Number 4: Low Number 4: Low- -Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Density Polyethylene (LDPE) LDPE, or Low-Density Polyethylene, is easy and cheap to process, so it's the most used type of plastic. You can find LDPE bags everywhere. All your grocery bags, shrink wraps, and bread packaging are made of LDPE

3. plastics. Even the coatings of milk cartons, beverage cups and squeezable bottles are all LDPE. Though it's the cheapest form of plastic, it's not a recyclable product; hence it's best to avoid and use cloth fibre for carrying things. Number 5: Polypropylene (PP) Number 5: Polypropylene (PP) Polypropylene is a stiffer plastic that is lightweight and more resistant to heat, so you can find it in hot food containers to maintain the temperature of food. It's also common in sanitary napkins, disposable diapers, plastic bottle tops, yogurt containers and other stiff materials. PP has low recyclability, and when it's directly in contact with heat, it may release toxins leading to asthma, hormone disruptions and other diseases. Number 6: Polystyrene (PS) Number 6: Polystyrene (PS) Polystyrene is a lightweight, inexpensive plastic with multiple uses. The companies manipulate it into soft foam or peanut packaging to safeguard products while shipping and hardening PS into a sturdy CD case. The soft inner foam of your bike helmet, disposable glasses, egg cartons, and picnic cutlery are all built with polystyrene. Though it's a widely used product, PS isn't recyclable. On top of it, it can leach toxicants when in contact with hot or oily material. Number 7: Others Number 7: Others

4. Category 7 is a miscellaneous category comprising all the types of plastic not mentioned in the above categories. Because it's such an imprecise group, categorizing it as recyclable or non-recyclable isn't possible. You can contact your nearest recycler to know if their recycling machines accept plastic from category 7. What Are the Steps of What Are the Steps of Plastic Recycling? Plastic Recycling? There are 5 key steps of the recycling process after the products reach the recycling centre. Sorting: Sorting: Recyclers use different techniques to sort plastic according to their type and determine the following stages. Shredding: Shredding: The recycling machine shreds plastic into tiny flakes. Washing: Washing: A thorough cleaning to remove contamination before moving forward to recycling. Melting: Melting: After thoroughly washing, the plastic flakes dry, and the recycling machines turn them into pellets. It's then the machines melt plastic to ready it for manufacturing. Manufacturing: Manufacturing: It's then transferred into injection moulding machines to turn it into a variety of usable. To Sum Up To Sum Up

5. Plastic is a hazardous material, but understanding its type can help you make a better decision when purchasing. If your plastic is recyclable, a plastic recycling company can easily use Injection Moulding Machines manufacture new materials from the same; otherwise, all of it goes into the landfills or, worse, suffocates many aquatic and land animals. The decision is yours whether to bring any plastic to your home or make a conscious decision to bring only recyclable plastic and put it into better use. Injection Moulding Machines to Source Link : Source Link : https://61fc7aa1f13cb.site123.me/blog/what-do-the-numbers- 1-to-7-on-plastic-products-mean