Plastic is made from petroleum or natural gas in a chemical process that combines smaller molecules into a large chainlike molecule, often with other substances added to give it particular qualities. Coca Cola is increasing the amount of recycled plastic in its bottles to 50 percent. MoistureShield in Arkansas, and Virginia-based Trex recycle polyethylene into outdoor decking material, fencing, and doors and windows. The shreds are then melted and formed into pellets, which can be made into other products. Plastics that can be recycled are first sorted, shredded and rid of impurities like paper. And increasingly, the recycling industry’s use of near‐infrared spectroscopy, which can identify the chemical composition of plastics, is improving the efficiency and speed of recycling. But in more and more cities like New York and Chicago, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic bags are now being recycled too. Image: Wikimedia CommonsĪlthough the Society of Plastic Industries developed seven codes to distinguish types of plastic for recycling, in reality, only two-polyethylene terephthalate (PET, used for synthetic fibers and water bottles) and high density polyethylene (HDPE, used for jugs, bottle caps, water pipes)-are routinely recycled. However, more and more places are accepting low-density polyethylene (LDPE found in bags and plastic wraps), represented by the number 4. Most cities only recycle plastics printed with a number 1 or 2 symbol.
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