Why Plastic Recycling Is Important?
Plastic has become an inevitable part of our lives. Everything from the packaging of our
groceries to the Smartphones in our hands is made of plastic or has plastic components. As much
as we need plastic in our lives, handling them irresponsibly has led to more plastic waste, most
of which has ended up in landfills.
Today, plastic pollution and its consequences are being widely debated. This has given rise to
sustainability initiatives that urge people to completely replace plastic and depend on “reusable”
and “biodegradable” products. But is it a feasible solution for the people of the UAE?
Research shows that the UAE has the fourth highest level of bottled water consumption. The
country’s packaged drinking water market size is estimated to have been at $625.4 million back
in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.7% during the period 2021- 2030. Since
drinking water is one of the basic necessities, the production and use of plastic water bottles are
something that cannot be replaced any time soon.
To curb the use of single-plastic water bottles, the sustainability initiative ‘Dubai Can’ was
launched in February 2022 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad bin Rashid Al
Maktoum. Through this initiative residents of Dubai are encouraged to use refillable water
bottles whenever possible. By providing access to free and safe drinking water across the
Emirate, ‘Dubai Can’ helped create a conscious living culture among the people, urging them to
opt-out of single-use plastic bottles and choose alternatives. The initiative was a true testament to
rethinking plastic.
Plastic Recycling
So how can we use plastic responsibly? At There’s More to Plastic, we are continuously
educating and encouraging the people of UAE to rethink their use of plastic and utilize it
sustainably. And one of the key steps of making plastic sustainable is recycling. Here is what you
need to know about plastic recyclingUnderstanding Plastic Recycling
Plastic recycling is an essential part of its lifecycle. The process starts by gathering plastic waste
and reconverting it into new and useful products. By carefully segregating and reprocessing
plastic materials to get other products, we can ensure that reusable plastic waste doesn’t end in
landfills.
Most of the plastic we use in our daily life are recyclable, which includes plastics such as PET,
PVC, and HDPE. However, there are some varieties of plastic that are not recycled either due to
the long process involved or the high cost of recycling. Depending upon the chemical
composition of the plastic, many of them are multi-use and can therefore be reused for a long
time.
Plastic recycling is a systematic process where the collected plastic is sorted, washed, shredded
and resized, segregated, and compounded before the actual recycling process. Today most
plastics are recycled in two ways-
• Traditional recycling involves melting the plastic and reshaping it into useful products
through a process called injection molding.
• Advanced recycling reconstructs plastic wastes into other products through the chemical
breakdown of the material.
Why recycle?
Plastic recycling is important to a more sustainable lifestyle. Recycling will effectively reduce
the amount of plastic trash, reduce the emission of greenhouse gasses, and saves petroleum,
which is used for making new plastics. Recycling old plastic will also conserve the energy that
manufacturers consume in creating new products and free up space used in landfills.
Additionally, recycling creates new jobs and becomes a source of income for many.
It Starts at Home
Recycling is a mindset as much as it is a process. So, start your plastic recycling efforts at home.
If you are looking for ideas on home recycling, check out this blog.
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