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The empty PET packaging is discarded by theconsumerafter use and
becomes PETwaste. In
the recycling industry, this is referred to as "post-consumer
PET." Many local governments andwaste collection agencies have
started to collect post-consumer PET separately from other
household waste. Besides that there iscontainer deposit
legislationin some countries which also
applies to PET bottles. When the PET bottle is returned to an
authorized redemption center, or to
the original seller in some jurisdictions, the deposit is partly
or fully refunded to the redeemer. Inboth cases the collected
post-consumer PET is taken to recycling centres known as
materials
recovery facilities (MRF)where it is sorted and separated from
other materials such as metal,
objects made out of other rigid plastics such
asPVC,HDPE,polypropylene, flexible plasticssuch as those used for
bags (generally low densitypolyethylene), drink cartons, glass,
and
anything else which is not made out of PET.
[edit] Sorting
Post-consumer PET is often sorted into different colour
fractions: transparent or uncoloured
PET, blue and green coloured PET, and the remainder into a mixed
colours fraction. The
emergence of new colours (such as amber for plastic beer
bottles) further complicates the sortingprocess for the recycling
industry.
[edit] Processing for sale
Bales of crushed PET bottles
This sorted post-consumer PET waste is crushed, pressed into
bales and offered for sale to
recycling companies. Colourless/light blue post-consumer PET
attracts higher sales prices
compared to the darker blue and green fractions. The mixed
colour fraction is the least valuable.
[edit] Further treatment
The Further treatment process includes crushing, washing,
separating and drying. Recyclingcompanies will further treat the
post-consumer PET by shredding the material into small
fragments. These fragments still contain residues of the
original content, shredded paper labels
and plastic caps. These are removed by different processes,
resulting in pure PET fragments, or
"PET flakes". PET flakes are used as the raw material for a
range of products that wouldotherwise be made ofpolyester. Examples
include polyester fibres (a base material for the
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production ofclothing,pillows,carpets, etc.), polyester
sheets,strapping, or back into PET
bottles etc.
[edit] Melt filtration
Melt filtration is typically used to remove contaminants from
polymer melts during the extrusionprocess.
[2]There is a mechanical separation of the contaminants within a
machine called a
screen changer a typical system will consist of a steel housing
with the filtration mediacontained in moveable pistons or slide
plates that enable the processor to remove the screens
from the extruder flow without stopping production. The
contaminants are usually collected on
woven wire screens which are supported on a stainless steel p
late called a breaker plate a strong
circular piece of steel drilled with large holes to allow the
flow of the polymer melt. For therecycling of polyester it is
typical to integrate a screen changer into the extrusion line. This
can
be in a pelletizing, sheet extrusion or strapping tape extrusion
line.
[edit] Global statisticsWorldwide, approximately 5.8 million
tons of PET were collected in 2009. This gave 4.7 million
tons of flake. 3.4 million tons were used to produce fibre,
500,000 tons to produce bottles,500,000 tons to produceAPETsheet
for thermoforming, 200,000 tons to produce strapping tape
and 100,000 tons for miscellaneous applications. (Source: PCI,
www.pcipetpackaging.co.uk )
Dog raincoat made from 100% Recycled PET fabric.
Petcore, the Europeantrade associationthat fosters the
collection and recycling of PET, reported
that in Europe alone, 1.45 million tonnes of PET bottles were
collected in 2010 - more than
48.3% of all bottles. After exported bales were taken into
account, 975,000 tons of PET flakewere produced. 382,000 tons were
used to produce fibres, 244,000 tons to produce more bottles,
221,000 tons to produce APET sheets, 93,000 tons for strapping
tape and 33,000 tons for
miscellaneous applications. (Source: PCI for Petcore)
[edit] Re-use of PET bottles
PET bottles are also recycled as-is (re-used) for various
purposes, including for use in school
projects, and for use insolar water disinfectionindeveloping
nations, in which empty PET
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