The diagram illustrates the stage of a cyclic process in which plastic bottles are recycled.
Overall, the process consists of three main stages, beginning with the collection of used plastic bottles and ending with the production of new plastic products, before the cycle starts anew.
At the initial stage, people throw plastic bottles into garbage bins so that the lorry can collect them and deliver them to the recycling center. There, these bottles are sorted because different types of plastic have unique properties and require different recycling processes. Subsequently, the materials are compressed into blocks and these blocks are then crushed, saving space. Following this, they are washed to ensure that the process is efficient and the bottles are clean and free of contamination.
The next stage involves the manufacturing of plastic pellets by a specialized machine. Then, the plastic pellets are sent to be heated to form the raw materials which are finally used to produce various products such as bottles, containers, clothes, and even pencils. It completes the cycle and returns the system to the initial state.