How plastic bottles are recycled

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  Step 1

  Empty plastic bottles are collected with your recycling and taken to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), where they are separated from your other recyclable materials.

   

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  Step 2

  The bottles are squashed, baled and sent to UK reprocessors.

   

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  Step 3

  The bottles are dry cleaned and sorted using an optical beam which separates the different types of plastic.

   

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  Step 4

  The bottles are then ground into flakes which are washed and sorted again.  Depending on the kind of plastic, the flakes are either decontaminated using a chemical solution or melted down and sieved to form beads as the plastic cools.

   

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  Step 5

  These beads and flakes can be melted down again and turned into new products. This can include packaging, drainage pipes, garden furniture or simply new plastic bottles!