Mechanical recycling is the process of melting plastics and reprocessing them into new goods via the use of injection molding. Processes such as pyrolysis, chemical recycling, and gasification are used in advanced recycling. When it comes to breaking down plastic materials, this method takes advantage of the chemical reaction. This includes the gathering and sorting of plastics, the washing of contaminants, shredding and resizing, the separation of materials after resizing, and the compounding of components.
Plastics production is still on the rise, owing to the cheap cost, flexibility, and wide range of uses available. According to Statista, the global plastics output reached 368 million metric tons in 2019, it is also anticipated to reach 445.25 million metric tons in 2025 and increase to about 590 million metric tons by 2050. Despite the high volume of manufacturing, only a small proportion of the waste gets recycled. These figures demonstrate how urgent it is for us to take action to address the rising numbers. Production that does not include recycling or appropriate waste management would have the unintended consequence of harming the environment. Improper plastic management results in the release of pollutants into the environment, which in turn contributes to global warming and the emission of hazardous gases into the atmosphere, making the environment unfit for human habitation. Recycling will minimize the number of raw materials required for manufacturing, help create employment, and reduce demand for new raw materials, thus helping conserve natural resources.
