> The aim of professional recycling is to improve the way we deal with waste by maximizing reuse. Generally speaking, waste prevention begins as soon as we start thinking about the production of goods (anything that’s produced has a production method which is designed to conserve resources, etc.). However, if a product has already been produced and has now reached the end of its life cycle, there’s no avoiding the fact that we now have on our hands something that we deem to be waste.
Recycling as Process Management
This is precisely where professional recycling comes in and attempts to bring this waste back into the value chain, so that as few natural resources as possible are needed to manufacture a new product. Straightforward examples include: “waste paper” -> “recycled paper” | “plastic -> “recycled plastic” ). According to this concept, the recycling process should be carried out as mindfully as possible (e.g. by optimizing transport routes, professional treatment and additional steps).
Here at SKG, our primary concern lies with catching the waste stream resulting from the manufacturing industry (as a by-product of the production process itself – click here to read a few examples).
From there, we collect plastic residues that are left over as production waste and pass them on for appropriate processing. As part of this process, any contaminants are removed and the plastic parts are cleaned and sorted for further processing. Once the necessary sorting/processing is complete, the collected plastics are now broken down into tiny pieces (“granulated”). The result is what’s known as granulate.
The next and final stage for us is to turn the granulate into regranulate or regenerate, and then finally into recyclate.
In order to meet our clients’ requirements, the high-quality and segregated granulate has to undergo a remelting process. In this molten state, it can be combined with different additives as required, such as fillers or masterbatch. The resulting material is what is known as regenerate. If the remelting process is carried out without additives, the resulting material is called regranulate.
Either way, the end product is always a recyclate – in other words, a processable plastic with a defined set of properties. As a finished end product, it can now be supplied to the manufacturing industry again, thus closing the cycle.
If you would like to read more short definitions on the subject of recycling, you can find a brief summary of key terms at the bottom of this page.
Understanding & Optimizing Processes
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Motivations
- Using resources efficiently and therefore protecting the environment
- Saving money and making good use of recyclable materials
- Taking personal responsibility – for the benefit of everyone!
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Stages
- Collecting
- Sorting
- Crushing
- Processing into new raw material
Conclusion: Optimized Recycling for Better Processes
Carefully considered recycling can help companies to cut down on resources – protecting the environment and their budget. Give us a call, we would be happy to advise you!
Mini Glossary
BRIEF DEFINITIONS OF TERMS USED
> Recyclate is an umbrella term used to describe a molding compound or a processed plastic with defined characteristics. In many cases, recyclate is mixed in with new materials. As part of its development, a recyclate has usually already undergone a processing procedure. A masterbatch or a blend is a material made up of several plastics and is produced via a processing procedure. It is not considered a recyclate.
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> Granulate is produced by grinding plastic down. Granulate is made up of little pieces varying in shape and size from 2 mm to 5 mm, and can also contain particles of dust.
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> Regranulate is produced by melting down granulate. Regranulate consists of granules of equal size and shape, does not contain dust and is easy to process.
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> Regenerate is produced via a melting process (compounding), during which additives are added to improve the properties of the resulting material. Regenerate consists of granules of equal size and shape, does not contain dust and, where necessary, has defined property values.
Other important terms in the field of recycling relate to the purity and tolerance of the output materials:
> Pure grade means that the material consists of one type of plastic from one manufacturer with the same type classification.
> Single variety means that the material consists of plastics with the same classification according to DIN EN ISO 11469 and/or VDA 260, and may contain plastics from different manufacturers.
> Similar grade means that the plastics to be processed have the same basic polymers, but vary in terms of their special properties, e.g. flame retardant additives.
> Mixed means that the material contains different plastics that are chemically compatible (e.g. ABS and PC). Plastics are considered compatible if they are homogeneously miscible when molten and can be processed into a molding material with adequate mechanical properties and an acceptable surface.
> Contaminated means that the plastics to be reprocessed still contain substances introduced during from previous use that are likely to intervene with the properties of the product they are molded into.