How is plastic sorted in a sorting center?
Plastic has become a ubiquitous material in our daily lives due to its versatile properties and relatively low cost. However, its widespread production and use have led to a growing environmental problem: plastic pollution . Sorting plastics in a recycling center is a key element of waste management, aiming to reduce plastic waste sent to landfills and promote recycling.
Why sort plastics in a sorting center?
Plastic pollution threatens biodiversity, water quality, and ecosystems. By sorting plastics, we can prevent a large amount of plastic waste from ending up in the oceans. According to National Geographic, 91% of plastic waste is not recycled .
The stages of sorting plastics in the sorting center:
-Plastic sorting begins with waste collection. Citizens are encouraged to separate their plastic waste from other household waste, thus facilitating subsequent sorting.
-The collected plastic waste is then sent to a sorting center where it will be sorted according to its type, color and shape.
-At the sorting center, plastic waste is unloaded and prepared for sorting. Large pieces are shredded to facilitate the sorting process.
2 types of sorting:
Manual sorting :
The plastics are manually sorted by trained operators. They inspect each item and group them into different categories based on their plastic type and color.
Automatic sorting :
Some sorting centers also use automatic sorting technologies, such as optical sensors and sorting machines, to improve the efficiency of the sorting process by quickly identifying the type of plastic.
This is why it is important not to nest packaging that is being recycled.
Once sorted, the plastics are compacted into bales to facilitate their transport to recycling plants.
Plastic sorting in recycling centers is an essential process for sustainable plastic waste management. By effectively sorting plastics, we can reduce pollution, promote recycling, and preserve our environment. Governments, industries, and citizens must work together to encourage plastic sorting and promote a circular economy focused on reducing, recycling, and reusing plastics.
This is why at Petits Cadors we favor recycled materials, especially for the filling of our cushions . Thanks to this, we contribute to the reuse of existing materials rather than the manufacture of more and more plastic. Of course, it has a cost to go through the cleaning and transformation stage, but today the question should no longer even arise in view of the global problem called PLASTIC.
+ info:
- article on 7 simple actions to adopt to give up plastic in everyday life
- article from National Geographic Why isn't recyclable waste always recycled?
