Retech Processing

Most plastics are made using the hydrocarbons from natural resources such as oil and natural gas and also other chemicals. Technically plastics are manufactured by chemical bonding of monomers into polymers. The size and structure of the polymer molecule determines the properties of the plastics material allowing huge variety and versatility. Plastics are generally supplied as granules or flakes. By applying heat and pressure plastic granules can be shaped or moulded to produce functional and decorative everyday products.

The history of plastics goes back more than 100 years - however, compared to other materials, plastics are relatively modern. Their usage over the past century has enabled society to make huge technological advances.

Plastics currently play a major role in our everyday lives and are widespread in areas as diverse as medicine, transport, packaging, electrical and building. Used in areas such as electronics, information technology and automotive. In 1995 Europe needed 24.9 million Tonnes of plastics to support a wide variety of uses in our everyday lives and statistics show that our consumption of plastics is increasing at an alarming rate every year. The European plastics manufacturing industry employs over 66,000 people.

The wider industry, including converters and machinery manufacturers, employs well over 1 million people and is a major contributor to Europe's economic strength. It is an important sector of the European chemical industry which is the second largest industry in Europe.

World production of plastics is approaching one million Tonnes/year. Approximately 50% of this is disposed off within 3 months on average, therefore approximately 1 million Tonnes a week is available for recycling world-wide. A small amount of certain plastics are presently recycled, this amount to 1 million Tonnes/year.

This presents the world with a large environmental problem and statistics show that the consumption of plastics is increasing at an alarming rate every year. The solution is the economic recycling of mixed plastics into value added products. Plastics are based on non-renewable oil based products.

Recycling puts plastic waste back into use. It reduces environmental damage, and minimises the pressure on already depleted natural resources, helps preserve valuable raw materials and helps reduce pollution.