The process by which plastic bottles are recycled can be outlined in nine consecutive steps. Overall, there are three main stages involved in the process, starting with the initial preparation of bottles, followed by the actual process of recycling, and lastly, production of a range of plastic items. Additionally, the process is a complex one, which requires much time and equipment to complete.
The first stage of process requires the involvement of several parties. Initially, people throw plastic bottles into recycling bins and these discarded bottles are collected by waste collection trucks. After the bottles have been delivered to the recycling facility, factory workers sort them into recyclable and non-recyclable ones.
The next stage begins when the recyclable bottles are compressed into blocks, which are then crushed. These crushed bits of plastic are then washed to remove dirt and other impurities. Subsequent to this, they pass through a machine to produce plastic pellets, followed by heating them in order to create raw material. In the last stage, the raw material is used to manufacture a variety of plastic products, ranging from containers and clothes to stationery such as pencils.