The diagram illustrates a seven-stage process for recycling plastic, beginning with the disposal of waste and ending with the creation of new products.
Overall, the procedure is entirely cyclical and involves collecting, sorting, cleaning and reprocessing plastic waste before it is transformed into reusable items.
Initially, discarded plastic materials such as bottles and packaging are placed into collection bins. Once enough waste has accumulated, it is transported to a recycling facility, where it is separated according to type. After sorting, suitable plastics are compressed into bales to allow easier handling.
In the next stage, the baled materials are thoroughly cleaned and washed to remove any impurities. They are then melted and pelletised, producing small plastic pellets. In the final step, these pellets are processed and manufactured into new plastic products, completing the cycle.