Recycling of Waste Product

Waste refers to unwanted material and things, Recycling refers to the process of converting something which can be considered as waste into a final new product. Waste can be anything from household waste, garbage, industrial waste, batteries, plastics, etc. Recycling waste products is very important as it helps in processing waste products into useful products. Recycling helps in controlling land, water, and air pollution. Recycling of waste products is one of the biggest problems faced by the world today. The world produces close to 4 million tonnes of waste on a regular basis. 

Waste Plastic Recycle

Plastic is the most commonly used material, we use about 20 times more plastic than we did 50 years ago. By optimizing the lifespan of plastics by recycling and reusing them, (like recycling used plastic bottles into new ones), we can reduce our need to create new plastic.  The goal of recycling plastic is to reduce high rates of plastic pollution because if they are not recycled at the proper time, they get mixed with other chemicals or materials and it will become more difficult to recycle them and they become a source of pollution. They are non-biodegradable and do not get decomposed by microbial action. To avoid these waste plastics, it is important to use biopolymers or biodegradable polymers.

[Image will be Uploaded Soon]

Waste Paper Recycling

Paper recycling means reprocessing waste paper for reuse. Waste papers are either obtained from the paper mill, discarded paper materials, etc. Paper is considered to be one of the major components of solid waste and makes 50 % of the garbage in landfills. The recycling paper includes 4 steps:

Stage 1: Collection

Stage 2: Recycling

Stage 3: Rolling

Stage 4: Selling 

The first step involves the collection of recyclable papers. It involves gathering paper waste from various outlets like home, offices, schools, etc. Paper merchants collect the paper from collection points like trash bins, paper stores, paper scrap yards, and other commercial outlets from where paper waste is generated. After collection, papers are measured, graded for quality, and drawn to the recycling paper mill. It is then transported to a recycling plant where the waste paper is sorted and separated into different types and grades.

The paper is sorted and separated in the recycling plant, This process helps to identify the papers that would be recycled and those which need to be discarded. The papers are generally classified according to their surface treatment and structure. Once the sorting process is done, the next process involves shredding and pulping. The shredding process is done to break down the paper materials. After the material is finely cut into small pieces, it is mixed with water and chemicals to breakdown the paper fiber materials.

The pulp produced is passed through a series of screens to remove larger pieces of contaminants like inks, plastic film, and glue. The pulp material is now mixed with new pulp to help the slurry substance to solidify and form a firm end product. To ease the process waste paper baler is also used.

The final stage is the rolling of recycled paper. Here, the clean pulp is prepared to begin processing into a new paper. The old newspapers, notebooks, and used envelopes can be recycled but paper contaminated with food, carbon paper, and stickers are not recycled.

[Image will be Uploaded Soon]

Benefits of Waste Recycling

• It will reduce the amount of waste thrown into landfills, waters and also saves energy.

• Recycling helps in conserving natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals.

• It will prevent soil and water pollution.

Main Sources of Waste:

• Industrial Waste (In the form of solid, liquid, and gases waste)

• Chemical Waste (Waste from chemicals, Cleaners, refrigerants, etc)

• Domestic Waste (Garbage and waste material discarded from the household)

• Agricultural Waste (Waste from agriculture-based activities)