The diagram illustrates the process of recycling plastic bottles through a sequence of nine distinct stages, beginning with the collection of waste and culminating in the production of new consumer goods.
Overall, the process is cyclical, progressing through several mechanical and chemical treatments to transform used plastic bottles into reusable materials and final products.
In the initial stage, plastic bottles are collected and transported by trucks to a recycling centre, where they are sorted into recyclable and non-recyclable categories. The recyclable bottles are then compressed into blocks, which are subsequently crushed into smaller fragments and thoroughly washed.
These cleaned fragments are processed into plastic pellets, which are then melted to form raw material. This raw material is either directly utilized in manufacturing new items or further refined before being turned into end products such as clothing, containers, or construction materials.