There are approximately 6.3 billion tons of plastic that Americans recycle each year. There is still a lot of work to be done, despite that impressive number. Thank goodness new technologies have helped to improve recycling processes and make them more efficient, allowing more plastic to be reused in new goods in the future.
A Fast Learner
What if recycling and artificial intelligence collided in the future? An AI-powered recycling robot that can recognise and sort materials at a rate that is nearly incomprehensible to the human eye. Clarke can classify packages based on visual cues like logos and photos thanks to algorithms. This could help to keep landfills free of recyclable plastics.
The Power Of Two People Working Together
Recycling polyethylene (PE) & polypropylene (PP), which make up two-thirds of the plastics we consume, is common. Researchers, on the other hand, suggest that by adding a specific monomer to recycled polyethylene and polypropylene (PE and PP), they can generate a durable, recyclable plastic. Additionally, scientists believe that because of the new plastic’s durability, it might be used to create packaging that uses much less material than current packaging, which would be beneficial to the environment.
Lowering Expenses
Water is frequently used in plastics recycling to clean and cool the material. Some recyclers have created technology that clean, chill, and manufacture recyclable materials without water to make recycling more better for the environment. These technologies can also assist lower the amount of energy needed to operate them. Using less water and energy will have a positive impact on the environment and reduce the amount of waste that needs to be recycled.
It’s Time To Get Down To Business
Plastics of various sorts are commonly collected by recyclers. Infrared (IR) laser sorting is becoming increasingly popular as a high-tech alternative to manual sorting. Plastics are scanned with IR light to determine their varied compositions, and then blown into separate recycling streams by air bursts.
Put Your Sleeves Up
Some plastic bottle containers have sleeves that are wrapped with shrink wrap. It’s possible that these labels will help you identify what’s in the bottle, and they can also impede recycling efforts. The quality of recycled plastics can degrade if the label is mingled with plastic bottles. It’s possible to remove most labels without destroying the bottles using a sophisticated method, which can cut waste and increase the number of plastic bottles that are recycled.
It’s All Good Now
Post-use polypropylene, the plastic widely used for yoghurt cups and bottle caps, will be cleaned using a new technology to remove colour, odour, and other pollutants. The end result, according to the team’s findings, is the resin that is as good as possible. In Ironton, Ohio, a massive new complex utilising this technology is currently under construction.
Plastics recycling could be improved, natural resources conserved, and more waste plastics turned into new, usable goods if these and other potential developments are implemented. It is important to remember the technology alone will not ensure that we continuing to trash more plastics—it is up to each and every one of us to make sure that our plastics are recycled.
