Many individuals in countries all over the world now recognize the need to recyclewaste, in order to limit the impact on the environment that consumption of various products is having,as well as manage existing non-renewable and renewable resources effectively. Of these, plastic is one material that is becoming increasingly widely recycled.
There are many different types of plastic, and because of this, there are different methods to reprocess and recycle them. Unlike with paper and various metals, vinyl recycling and the repurposing and reusing of other plastics is only just beginning to roll out in some countries and regions of the globe.
As plastics are materials that we use in a variety of different products – from packaging for our food to lining for our floors – it is essential that this is a substance whose production is effectively managed for a more sustainable planet. Thankfully, with the rise of dedicated plastic recycling plants, this is finally becoming a reality.
Many different plastics are now widely recyclable, including PET, High Density Polyethylene, Medium Density Polyethylene, PVC or Vinyl, Low Density Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polystyrene and ABS. Depending on the recycling plant, different quantities will be accepted for reprocessing and then repurposed and sold on under different forms.
Many consider that it is at this stage that it becomes the responsibility of manufacturers to continue the environmentally responsible work carried out by the recycling plants, and it is becoming increasingly possible to buy recycled plastic products as a result, as companies try to improve their ‘green’ image.
Vinyl recycling is an area of particular interest, as this material is widely used, although many plants did not process this material up until recently. Items that are typically made of vinyl are sturdy plastic products that are extremely hardwearing and make excellent inexpensive fittings in the home. These can include fencing, siding, window trim, guttering and other pipework.
Plants that recycle this particular material will generally regrind the PVC or pulverize it, depending on the needs of the buyer. As vinyl recycling efforts are maximized, the price of this material has actually become lower for the manufacturers, making purchasing recycled material more attractive and enhancing the ‘green’ aspect of the industry.
Prices for manufacturers interested in buying the end products of vinyl recycling or other reprocessed plastics, however, have to bear the brunt of the fluctuations of global markets, although the most reputable recycling plants aim to keep prices as steady as possible and offer their products at competitive tariffs to keep them a viable option.