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 1. Plastic bottles are collected
either by kerbside collection, or from plastic bottle banks, and taken to a material reclamation facility (MRF) where they are sorted into their different types – HDPE, PET and PVC. Sorting
the bottles increases their value.
2. Once sorted, the bottles are squashed into tightly packed blocks or bales. Squashing the plastic bottles saves energy
because you can get more on a lorry when transporting them than if they weren't squashed.
3. The bottles are then taken to a reprocessing factory where the bottles
are cut up into small flakes – about the size of corn flakes. The flakes are washed to remove any dirt and labels and then they are dried.
4. The clean plastic flakes are then sent to factories where they are melted
down and made into new items. Recycled plastic bottles can make all sorts of new things including new bottles, fleece clothes, garden furniture, kerbside collection boxes, drain pipes and much more.
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