Scrap plastic is the most visible type of solid waste and takes several hundred years before it breaks down at the landfill. But most plastics can be recycled, with Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) being the most commonly recycled.

How to prepare for recycling:

Wash plastic containers and squash if possible. Sort the plastics according to type, by checking the resin identification code (arrows forming a triangular shape with a number in the middle) to learn what kind of plastic it is.

How it is recycled:

Plastics are washed, chopped into flakes, and fed into an extruder, where heat and pressure melt the plastic. The molten plastic is then formed into strands, which are then chopped into uniform pellets. These plastic pellets are then sold to manufacturing companies who can use these as raw material for new products.

Products:

The wide range of products made from recycled plastic include: polyethylene bin liners and plastic bags; PVC sewer pipes, flooring and window frames; building insulation boards; video and compact disc cassette cases; fencing and garden furniture; fleeces; fibre filling for sleeping bags and duvets; and a variety of office accessories.

What is saved:

Recycling plastic conserves nonrenewable fossil fuels (plastic production uses eight percent of the world's oil production); reduces consumption of energy; reduces amounts of solid waste going to landfill; and reduces emissions of carbon-dioxide (CO2), nitrogen-oxide (NO) and sulphur-dioxide (SO2).

source: http://www.taoshelter.tao-pilipinas.org