Recycled plastic pellets and regrind are one of the easiest, most cost-efficient ways to reduce carbon footprints, while at the same time saving money. A large amount of plastics can be recycled, not all of which can be reused by the original manufacturer in a closed loop program.
The Process
Recyclable plastics are first sorted by resin and quality, then shredded or ground (which is the origin of the term ‘Regrind’). Sometimes, this regrind can be used as-is, and is usually highly cost-effective, but not always pure enough for direct product manufacturing. Further processing may include densifying, aspiration, separation based on density, and even computer colour separation. Next, they undergo washing processes to eliminate impurities such as paper. This purified regrind is then melted and extruded back into consistent pellets - the recycled plastic pellets that manufacturers use to manufacture their goods. These final recycled plastic pellets are often high-grade, environmentally-friendly materials, available at less cost than virgin plastics. This includes resins such as LDPE, LLDPE, MDPE, HDPE, PP, BOPP, COPP, HOPP, PET, RPET, PS, PC, EPS, GPPS and HIPS.
The recycling is usually done by a direct, multi-material, full-service, plastics processing unit, which can custom-compound recovered plastic/ resin feedstock to meet specific requirements.
End Use The range of recycled plastic pellets for end-of-use manufacturing include:
Standard Reprocessed Plastic Pellets
In addition to custom regrind & pelletizing, a variety of standard recycled plastic pellets include:
Mixed Colour LDPE Pellets (1-2 MFI):
These are also known as Film Grade Low Density Polyethylene Pellets. Common applications include film, bags, pipe, irrigation tubing and profiles.
Clear LDPE Pellets (1-2 MFI):
These are also called Clear Low Density Polyethylene Pellets. Similarly, common applications include film, basis, pipe, profiles, which need a clear plastic or which can be custom-coloured as needed.
Natural HDPE Pellets (Frac Melt):
Natural High Density Polyethylene Pellets are recycled plastic pellets commonly used in film, bags, pipe, plastic lumber, furniture, pipe, profiles, thermoformed packaging.
Mixed Colour HDPE Pellets (Frac Melt):
These mixed-colour high-density recycled polyethylene pellets are perfect for pipe, plastic lumber, furniture, profiles.
Mixed Colour MDPE Pellets (1-4 MFI):
Mixed colour Medium Density Polyethylene Pellets are great for pipe, plastic lumber, furniture, decking, compression moulding, pipe, profiles.
Mixed Colour PP Mixed Colour Pellets (6-20 MFI):
These polypropylene pellets often come from bottle caps. The pellets may be used for the moulding and extrusion of a wide variety of products.
Mixed Colour HDPE Pellets (6-8 MFI):
These polypropylene pellets often come from crates, buckets, or bottle caps. The pellets may be used for the moulding and extrusion of a wide variety of products.
Black HDPE Pellets (5-9 MFI):
These high-density recycled polyethylene pellets are perfect specifically for black-coloured products such as shopping bags and garbage bags.