The impact of plastic bags on the environment. Acceptance of plastic bags for recycling How this product can be useful

Polyethylene granules

Polyethylene is an organic compound that is a polymer (a substance with a large molecular weight, consisting of long macromolecules) of ethylene (a flammable, colorless gas with a faint odor). Formed as a result of the polymerization process of ethylene. Occupies the largest share among plastics. Industrial production of polyethylene began in the mid-20th century. Often people try to hand over polyethylene by mistake, confusing it with polyethylene rephthalate (PET). However, these are different substances, and their disposal or recycling processes occur differently. They are also taken separately.

And polyethylene is often confused with cellophane, not realizing that these are completely different substances. Cellophane is a wood pulp processing product.

Everyone is familiar with polyethylene products. Their number is very large and is constantly growing, because this material is quite cheap, easy to use and has many applications. And if you hand over polyethylene waste for recycling, you can obtain secondary raw materials from it.

Types of polyethylene

Types of polyethylene materials There are quite a few types of polyethylene. Moreover, despite the fact that the basis for their production is the same base material (namely, polyethylene granules 2-5 mm in size), each variety has its own special qualities and they are all considered completely different substances. But the processing of polyethylene occurs in the same way, regardless of its type.

It is customary to distinguish different types of polyethylene based on its density.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE)

Bags made from LDPE

It is also commonly called low-density polyethylene. It is obtained by polymerizing ethylene using a tubular reactor or autoclave.

Low-density polyethylene (HDPE)

HDPE pipes

It is also commonly called high-density polyethylene. It is manufactured using three technologies: gas-phase, suspension and solution.

Medium pressure polyethylene (MDP)

Packages from design documentation

PSD is obtained by mixing LDPE and HDPE in certain proportions.

Linear high-density polyethylene (LDPE)

Soft and elastic material obtained by the most complex polymerization method.

Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX)

Has a high molecular weight. PEX is obtained from HDPE by cross-linking its molecules with ionizing radiation at elevated pressure.

Foamed polyethylene (polyethylene foam, PP)

Products made from PP foamed polyethylene are produced using foaming technology with a special mixture.

Chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSP)

High elasticity material. CSP is obtained by reacting polyethylene with chlorine and sulfur dioxide.

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)

Super durable material. UHFMP is produced at low pressure with a high degree of polymerization.

Application of polyethylene and its properties

The main product of LDPE is canisters of various volumes

PVD

LDPE is characterized by increased plasticity, a high level of fluidity in the melt, and low tensile strength.

LDPE is the most common packaging material. It is used to make bags and wrapping film. Products made from LDPE are glossy, do not rustle, and have a beautiful appearance.

Recycling plastic bags allows the material to be reused.

HDPE

A fairly hard product, with a density of 0.95 g/cm³ (or higher). It has good strength and slightly elongates when broken. Resistant to low temperatures (withstands frost down to -50°C). Does not allow moisture to pass through, and is resistant to fats and oils. Does not emit toxic substances, therefore safe for humans.

Canisters, waste containers, containers for solvents, etc. are mainly made from LDPE.

PSD

Has good resistance to breaks or impacts, cracking and scratches. The characteristics are similar to HDPE.

Shopping bags, sacks, shrink and regular films, screw caps, etc. are made from PSD. Since all this is common in households, the question often arises - where to donate polyethylene? For this, there are collection points or simply special containers.

LPVD

Its properties are similar to HDPE, but it has the highest physical and chemical characteristics. Puncture resistant and withstands both high and low temperatures.

From LLDPE it is possible to obtain a thinner film than from HDPE. Packaging films, lamination films, etc. are the main areas of application for LDPE, although it is gradually replacing LDPE. LDPE films can be used for packaging hot products.

PEX

PEX water pipes

It is characterized by high strength and heat resistance, does not spread when heated.

The scope of application of cross-linked polyethylene is pipes and various parts for water supply, heating, pipelines.

PP

Properties of this type of polyethylene: it is characterized by a smooth surface, has a finely porous structure, good elasticity and resilience. Has excellent biological and chemical resistance. Durable. Weakly absorbs moisture and conducts heat poorly. Ecologically pure. Safe for humans.

It is used mainly in construction (for thermal insulation and other needs).

HSP

The properties of CSP resemble rubber. Has the ability to vulcanize. It has high chemical and atmospheric resistance and tolerates high temperatures. It is not affected by alkalis, acids and strong hardeners.

Paints and varnishes, adhesives, and sealants are made from CSP.

SVMP

SVMP is a very durable material designed for use in extreme conditions. It has high frost resistance, is resistant to impacts, friction, corrosion, and abrasives.

The scope of application is very wide. SVMP is good wherever ultra-strong fibers are required (medical materials, sports equipment, armor protection, protective coating for any structures and elements).

Equipment for polyethylene processing

Now in Russian cities there are many places where you can hand over polyethylene quickly and easily. Many companies purchase it to send it to processing plants. You can also equip your own processing line. Such a line, when fully equipped, includes the following equipment:

• washing machine;
• crusher;
• centrifuge;
• drying installation;
• agglomerator;
• granulator;
• extruder

A pneumatic conveyor, as well as a conveyor, will help increase the efficiency of the work process - with their help, the supply of raw materials is accelerated and improved.

The key processing device is the agglomerator. It is he who, when exposed to high temperatures, forms secondary raw materials - agglomerate - from polyethylene waste. Subsequently, finished products are produced from the agglomerate.

The granulator may be part of the processing line, but in some cases you can do without it.

Polyethylene is recycled by burning it. The main disadvantage of this technique is the toxic substances released during the combustion process. It is necessary to apply increased safety measures to avoid environmental pollution.

Recycled polyethylene products

Plastic trash bags are a recycled product

Instead of recycling plastic bags and other products made from this material by burning, it is much more profitable and efficient to send them for recycling. The features of this process are:

For the first time, polyethylene products can be recycled without any restrictions. But the number of subsequent processing is limited by certain conditions, because the quality of the material begins to gradually decline. It is possible to produce any products from polyethylene recycled several times only if the requirements for these products are significantly reduced.

Various companies produce film and other materials made of polyethylene, planning to make money on it, but we must not forget that the quality of the material decreases not only due to multiple processing cycles. The deterioration of the properties of polyethylene products is also affected by exposure to direct sunlight, temperature fluctuations, as well as some other operating conditions.

It is also worth considering this feature: products made from polyethylene secondary (for example, bags) may not be too inferior in their parameters to the primary ones, but at the same time they can be purchased at a very attractive price.

Recycling of bags and other polyethylene products is carried out according to the following scheme:

• sorting;
• washing;
• splitting up;
• centrifugation;
• rinsing again;
• drying;
• heat treatment.

Polyethylene collection points (80 cities)

Video: Polyethylene processing plant

Good day, brainwashes! Plastic recycling is a pressing issue and this brainstorming is one of the answers to it.

Plastic bags are so widespread that they have become one of the elements of clutter in our space, and the planet as a whole. But not everything is so sad, because you can with your own hands at home, process them into sheets of plastic that are useful for your homemade projects.

Step 1: Get to know the process

Step 2: Materials and Tools

• Polyethylene bags (HDPE)
• Baking parchment
• Baking tray
• Scissors
• Oven

Step 3: Prepare packages

To begin with, we accumulate a large number of bags, I accumulated about 64 pieces, and as we accumulate, we wash and dry them.

Please note that for the process described in this brain leadership, you need bags made of high-density polyethylene HDPE; low-density polyethylene LDPE will also work, but it has a lower melting point. The coloring and logos on the bags do not play a role, the main thing is the uniformity of the material, as indicated by the markings.

Step 4: Cutting the Bags

We cut dry and clean bags: we cut off the handles and the bottom, thereby obtaining plastic rings, which we also cut along one side. I decided not to use the logo sides of the bag so I cut them off to make it a solid color brain plastic.

Step 5: Soldering 4 packages

We begin the process of soldering the polyethylene sheets obtained earlier by cutting the bags. To do this, tear off a piece of baking parchment slightly larger than polyethylene sheets and spread it on a heat-resistant surface, for example, plywood or OSB. Place a stack of 4 sheets of polyethylene on the parchment, and cover with another piece of parchment on top.

Turn on the iron and set it to medium temperature, and when it warms up, we begin to iron the stack of polyethylene sheets from the middle to the edges. Okay, we iron the sheets over the entire surface, then remove the top parchment and see how the sheets have fused. If it’s not very good, then cover them again with parchment and iron them, but at a higher temperature. If holes appear in the fused sheets, the iron temperature is too high and needs to be reduced.

Having selected the desired temperature, we iron the remaining bags in the same way, thereby making four-layer sheets, which we will later combine into thicker ones.

Step 6: Soldering Thicker Sheets

Now you need to solder the four-layer polyethylene sheets into thicker ones. By brain test and errors, I came to the conclusion that four-layer sheets are the most optimal. Fewer layers melt to form holes, while larger numbers are more difficult to solder.

Therefore, we take two four-layer sheets, place them between sheets of parchment and iron them at a higher temperature, also from the middle to the edges. To make the process more efficient, apply the iron with pressure when soldering. As a result, we get eight-layer polyethylene sheets.

In order to make sheets with a large number of layers, we put four-layer polyethylene on eight-layer polyethylene and iron it, etc. to the required thickness of the plastic briquette. In this case, it is recommended to alternate the back and front sides for soldering, that is, turn over after the next soldering, thereby avoiding deformation of the briquettes.

From four-layer sheets you can sew light raincoats and bags, from eight-layer coats or a bag. 12-layer sheets are more suitable for creating backpacks and laptop bags. 24-layer polyethylene can be used to create models and crafts, and 64-layer for containers and more durable products.

Step 7: Baking the Polyethylene

To improve the quality of your multi-layer sheets, because sometimes they do not stick well or bubble, you can bake them in the oven. To do this you will need a baking sheet, or better yet two, the same parchment and a few bricks.

We spread parchment on one baking sheet and place multi-layer polyethylene on it. brainbrick, on top of the polyethylene is another sheet of parchment and another baking sheet, on which we place a brick or two to weigh it down.

Place the resulting structure in the oven for half an hour at a temperature of 200 degrees Celsius. After the specified time, take it out and be sure to let it cool, without removing the bricks to avoid deformation.

When the structure has cooled to room temperature, remove the bricks, take out the baked polyethylene and check its edge. If it is completely soldered, solid, then the process was successful, if it is heterogeneous, there are unsoldered places, then you may have to repeat the process at a higher temperature, up to 230 degrees.

Step 8: Trimming the Edges

During the soldering process, the edges of the polyethylene briquettes lost their straight shape, so we take scissors in our hands and give them the desired rectangular shape.

Step 9: Application

Now that the plastic bags have been recycled, let's turn on brain creativity and create something useful from briquettes. By the way, this recycled polyethylene can be used in vacuum forming and even to make glue gun sticks.
Good luck in your creativity and clean space around you!

Plastic bags and film

Additional Information:

Types of plastic bags and films.

• polyethylene(marking 02, HDPE, HDPE and 04, LDPE): polyethylene comes in high and low density (low and high pressure, respectively). If there is no marking, then you can distinguish one material from another as follows: thin rustling packaging bags and most “T-shirt” bags are 02. Soft, oily bags, greenhouse, stretch and bubble film are 04.
• polypropylene(marking 05, PP, PP): most often this packaging is shiny and “crispy”, easily torn, and does not stretch. Cereals, pasta, bread, cookies, etc. are packaged in polypropylene. Opaque wrappers from chocolate bars are also PP with added dye; such packaging is more difficult to recycle, so it is not accepted everywhere.
• combined plastic(marking type C/xx or 07/other)
• biodegradable And pseudo biodegradable
• polyvinyl chloride(PVC, PVC, 03)

Where can I recycle plastic bags?

We do not accept all types of packages. See our instructions for the exact current list!

• bags: packaging, T-shirts, ziplock, for shopping
• film: bubble, greenhouse, stretch
• spandbond bags
• "sugar" bags and similar bags, bags
• foamed polyethylene
• with markings:

02, HDPE, PVD, C/02, C/HDPE
04, LDPE, HDPE, C/04, C/LDPE

How to return bags and film?

1. independently to the collection point of the Collector
2. order a Collector
3. at the rallies of our movement, from which we take it to the Collector’s warehouse

We do not accept for processing from individuals:

• “biodegradable” plastic;
• polyvinyl chloride (PVC/PVC/03);
• plastic 07.

On this site we collect bit by bit information on where to donate rare types of recyclables and things. We keep the data up-to-date and check reception points if they cause you mistrust.

Most of our activities are supported by volunteers, but in order to structure information, monitor its updates and maintain the operation of the site, the daily work of a content manager is needed. Please, so that we can continue to provide up-to-date information for you!

Plastic bags.

Plastic bags owe their existence to processed oil and natural gas. They have high strength, but are not biodegradable. Less than 60 years have passed since the invention and popularization of the first bags, which means that not a single one of them has yet undergone absolute biological decay under natural conditions. Household bags that have lost their consumer properties and end up in the natural environment create sustainable pollution for the entire ecosystem. When they are heated and burned, harmful substances are released that are toxic to the entire ecological system. A plastic bag can be recycled in an industrial environment only after being separated from its contents.

Plastic bags.

Cellophane is a transparent, fat- and water-resistant material made from viscose. The environmental safety of cellophane is due to the high rate of its biological decomposition and the absence of plasticizers, and the glycerin it contains is harmless to living organisms and to the environment in general. These qualities of cellophane revive interest in this type of packaging - when separated from dyes and impurities, it is completely processed by microorganisms and recycling is possible.

Oxo-biodegradable bags.

Their production uses the same polymer raw materials (crushed plastic bottles - flex PET) as in the manufacture of plastic bags, but with the addition of degradants. Additives artificially accelerate the process of biodegradation in the environment into carbon, water, trace elements and biomass under the influence of temperature, ultraviolet radiation and oxygen. The decomposition period of oxo-biodegradable packaging is 1-3 years. Impurities that reduce mechanical strength and promote rapid decomposition of plastic make it impossible to recycle it in its pure form.

Hydro-biodegradable bags.

The basis for their production is food crops - plant polymers obtained from high-starch food crops such as beets, corn, and wheat. They are distinguished by high environmental friendliness at all stages of operation, but low strength indicators and high resource consumption during production. The process of complete biological decomposition into carbon and water in 30-70 days, as a result of decomposition, biomass (compost) is formed. A T-shirt type bag is made from natural material; garbage bags and packaging bags.

Paper bags. Kraft paper bags.

The raw material for their production is wood or waste paper. They have a short service life, thereby increasing their quantitative consumption and production costs for electricity and water. The ideal scheme for optimizing production and natural costs includes complex responsibility of the manufacturer and the buyer. Several recyclings of one paper bag are possible - packaging material is made from wood, which, after a period of use, is recycled back into packaging. At the same time, waste paper is processed with less energy consumption, and the paper, having completed its consumer cycle, is decomposed in the soil by microorganisms.

Reusable polyester bags.

They are sewn from synthetic artificial material obtained from recycled polymer waste (recycled plastic). Completely eliminates the need to purchase plastic bags. With daily use, one such bag will last from three to five years and will replace several thousand bags. Products made of polyester are included in the list of materials approved by the state sanitary inspection authorities of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation for contact with food, non-toxic when burning and decomposing. Bags made of polyester are recommended for recycling processing.

Textile bags.

They are made from fibers of plant origin - jute, cotton, flax, bamboo or recycled materials. Eco-bags have become not just an impersonal container for shopping, but an independent part of the wardrobe. Having completed their consumption cycle, the bags decompose into non-toxic substances.

Each of us can improve the environmental situation, we just need to be careful about our own garbage and throw it away in separate solid waste containers.

flexpet.ru

Plastic bags and film | Separate collection ECOLOGICAL MOVEMENT

Everything you wanted to know about packages and didn’t hesitate to ask.

There are quite a few companies that process soft polymers, but most of them prefer to work with waste produced by large enterprises and look at “household” plastic with distrust. There are good reasons for this: household plastic is often contaminated with substances that unpredictably affect the recycling process, and it turns out that it is more difficult to wash these substances from soft packaging than from hard ones. Companies quite naturally do not want to risk expensive equipment and the quality of entire batches of finished products due to impurities in raw materials and they follow the path of least resistance. Unfortunately, there are still few people willing to invest in new technologies for pre-processing raw materials that reduce the above-mentioned risks.

Companies that do not have strict requirements for raw materials also exist, for example, manufacturers of polymer-sand tiles and other building materials are ready to accept even a mixture of different types of soft plastic.

Types of plastic bags and films.

• polyethylene (marking 02, HDPE, HDPE and 04, LDPE, LDPE): polyethylene can be of high and low density (low and high pressure, respectively), if there is no marking, then you can distinguish one material from another as follows: thin rustling packaging bags and large some of the “T-shirt” packages are 02; and soft, oily bags, greenhouse, stretch and bubble film - 04.
• polypropylene (marking 05, PP, PP): most often this packaging is shiny and “crispy”, easily torn, and does not stretch. Cereals, pasta, bread, cookies, etc. are packaged in polypropylene. Opaque wrappers from chocolate bars are also PP with added dye; such packaging is more difficult to recycle, so it is not accepted everywhere.
• combined plastic (marking type C/xx or 07/other)
• biodegradable and pseudo-biodegradable (be sure to read about the difference in the separate material!)

Do not confuse plastic bags with “cellophane”!

A huge number of people, out of habit, call any rustling waterproof bags with this word. In fact, today 99.9% of bags and films are made of plastic - polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE) or polypropylene (PP). Cellophane, as reflected in its name, is chemically treated cellulose - that is, it is the closest relative of paper and is labeled PAP (that is, paper, paper).

The cellophane “boom” occurred in the 70s and 80s. Since the early 90s, it began to be replaced by cheaper and easier to produce polyethylene. However, if a cellophane bag quickly decomposes into organic components, a polyethylene bag will decompose in about 150 years.

The question of how much more environmentally friendly cellophane is than polyethylene is ambiguous - after all, to produce a cellophane bag you need not just to combine a couple of molecules, but to cut down a living tree and thoroughly process it. However, due to its benefits in reducing the world's landfill, this material is slowly reappearing on the market. Mixing cellophane with plastic bags and film for recycling is dangerous - cellulose can ignite under conditions in which plastic cannot ignite in principle. In addition, once it gets into the tiles, which are made from shredded bags, cellophane will begin to rot, which is why it will become unusable ahead of time. Therefore, we ask you a big request: if you come across a transparent, crisp film labeled PAP, throw it in the general trash.

Article about cellophane on Wikipedia

Where can I recycle plastic bags? (Information as of January 2018)

We were able to obtain reliable information about several procurement companies, both large and small, that are actually involved in the collection, processing (and partly recycling) of soft plastic generated by the population. We hope that the list will be supplemented and expanded, including with your help. Write to us if you learn something new!

The ExpertVtor company procures various types of recyclable materials, also accepts and independently processes LDPE bags and film, and some time ago they began to accept PP(5) and HDPE(2) bags, but not any (for details, see the table below10. These 'ExpertVtor' packages are sorted, pressed and sold to other processors. Where they accept:

• stationary reception point at the design factory “Flacon” st. Bolshaya Novodmitrovskaya, 36, building 15. (to the right of building 15). There is a receptionist at the point during working hours, but even without him the point works offline every day and around the clock!
• at the actions of our movement:

The Tsessor company is based in Elektrostal, near Moscow, and is engaged in the collection and partial processing of recyclable materials, incl. polymer. Accepts any bags/soft polymer packaging, except foil and those marked 3 and 7. During an excursion to the Cessora processing plant, our activists learned that recyclables from the shares are sent to other processors. If raw materials are pre-sorted by type (and color!), then they have a chance of being processed at a higher level than becoming an additive to polymer sand tiles. Recyclers that Cessor works with: recyclene.ru, mplastika.ru, etc. Where they accept:

• stationary containers in Elektrostal (see map recyclemap.ru)
• at the events of our Movement “Separate Collection:

The Ecoline company operates under a long-term government contract in the districts of the Central Administrative District and the Northern Administrative District, states that some types of soft packaging can be placed in their containers for separate collection (for details, see the table below), but has not yet provided information about what happens next.

Project “Glass” from Butovo. Where he takes it: at rallies in Butovo in the South-Western Administrative District, Moscow

The Sphere of Ecology company at its collection point at Artplay currently accepts only transparent packaging and LDPE bubble film (04). Where: Moscow, Nizhnyaya Syromyatnicheskaya st., 10, building 3 (from 9 to 19, no lunches and weekends)

type of soft packaging	company
	ExpertSecond	Cessor	Ecoline	glass	Sphere of Ecology
HDPE, HDPE, 02, 2, transparent	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
HDPE, HDPE, 02, 2, opaque	Yes	Yes	?	No	No
LDPE, PVD, 04, 4, transparent	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
LDPE, PVD, 04, 4, opaque	Yes	Yes	?	No	No
PP, PP, 05, 5, transparent	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
PP, PP, 05, 5, opaque	Yes	Yes	?	No	No
PVC/PVC/3	No	No	No	No	No
7(other)	No	No	No	No	No
with labels, price tags	No	No	No	No	No
dirty/greasy/with crumbs	No	No	No	No	No
“biodegradable” bags	No	No	No	No	No
foil	No	No	No	No	No
non-foil composite plastic (marking type C/xx)	No	No	No	No	No

How bags and film mixtures are recycled (video)

Recycling of bags and film

The problem of plastic bags and examples of solutions in the world.

The key components in PE bags are oil and natural gas. About 4% of global oil production is spent on their production. At the same time, the average lifespan of a package is 20 minutes, and the average lifespan of decomposition is 100 years.

Few people think that this convenient invention creates a huge number of problems, kills millions of birds and animals every year, and sometimes even leads to floods.

Currently, more than 150 million tons of plastic pollute the world's oceans, the British environmental NGO Ellen Macarthur Foundation reported.

The problem of used bags in the world is already so acute that various measures are being taken to combat environmental pollution from polyethylene, and about 40 countries have already introduced a ban or restriction on the sale and production of plastic bags:

In the European Union, on April 16, 2014, a directive was adopted to reduce the number of plastic bags by 50% by 2017 and by 80% by 2019.

Denmark. In 1994, a tax was introduced on the free distribution of plastic bags. After this, demand for it fell by 90%.

Germany. Consumers pay for bag disposal, while retailers and distributors are responsible for collection and recycling.

Ireland. An “ecological” tax has been introduced. As a result, package consumption decreased by 90%.

Singapore, Bangladesh, Taiwan. A complete ban on the use of plastic bags has been introduced. The reason for this was the fact that sewers were blocked and river beds were blocked with plastic. Recall that in Bangladesh, plastic bags were the main cause of floods in 1988 and 1998, which flooded 2/3 of the country.

Tanzania. Here, for the production, import or sale of plastic bags, you can be fined $2,000 or jailed for a year.

Zanzibar. The import of plastic bags is prohibited.

Australia. Since January 2004, the authorities have introduced a ban on plastic bags on Kangaroo Island. By the end of 2008, there was an outright ban on the use of plastic bags in supermarkets throughout the country.

England. The population here has been using biodegradable bags since 2004.

Latvia. The tax on disposable bags is used to reduce their use.

Finland. In this advanced country, stores have machines for recycling and producing new plastic.

China. From June 1, 2008, it is prohibited to produce, sell and use plastic bags with a film thickness of less than 0.025 mm, and free distribution of them in stores and supermarkets will be prohibited.

Italy. Since January 1, 2011, the use of plastic bags has been prohibited in the country. Instead, they use reusable bags or biobags.

Rwanda. Stores across the country have banned the provision of plastic bags to customers. Local police on the street stop those who dare to walk with a package in their hands. Some supermarkets that failed to comply with the law had their trading licenses revoked, according to Environment Minister Drosella Mugorevera.

India. According to the new law, any citizen using plastic bags may face a prison term of up to 7 years or a fine of up to 100,000 rupees, which is equivalent to 2 thousand US dollars. This ban was introduced following the example of South Africa.

Egypt. The ban on the use of plastic bags was introduced in 2008. The authorities decided to take these measures in order to preserve the unique ecosystem of the Red Sea, where coral reefs are primarily affected by plastic bags thrown into the sea.

France. In 2017, France passed a ban on single-use plastic bags (with a capacity of less than 10 liters and a thickness of less than 50 microns - that's a millionth of a meter) distributed in large supermarkets around the world. This is only part of a large EU program against the use of plastic, where they already understand that it has a significant impact on the environment.

Russia. There are no official restrictions on the use of plastic bags in our country. However, Russia has recently banned calling plastic bags “biodegradable”. Unfortunately, we are still very far from banning plastic bags. Meanwhile, in the capital alone, about one hundred thousand tons of plastic bags are used every year, and barely a third of this amount is disposed of (most often through conventional burial).

What to do?

rsbor-msk.ru

from collection to recycled plastic

Home » Garbage and waste

Recycling plastic bags is a rising trend in solving waste disposal problems, but there is still room for improvement, according to waste management experts. More and more grocery stores are participating in plastic bag recycling programs, which is making a difference. Here are some important facts about recycling plastic bags.

Total plastic recycling volume could increase

About 13 percent of all plastic bags, plastic film and PET bottles were recycled in 2014, according to the State Environmental Protection Agency. Polyethylene film is used in a wide variety of products, including, for example, packaging materials. The recycling rate of plastic bags is significantly lower than the same rate for paper and metal or the recycling of plastic bottles. Nearly 60 percent of all metals were recycled in 2014, according to the agency, while more than 50 percent of paper was recycled in the same year.

Recycling plastic bags: Goals. The Association of Plastic Products Manufacturers, which includes the majority of companies producing plastic bags in Russia, has set as its goal a 40 percent recycling rate for plastic bags and films by 2018. Achieving this goal will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy to heat 200,000 homes every year, along with an annual waste reduction of 100 million kilograms.

The dangers of plastic bags

One of the biggest dangers of plastic bags is the associated pollution and energy expended in the original manufacturing process, which primarily uses natural gas. By recycling plastic bags at the waste sorting station, along with a variety of other recycled plastic products, the waste management company offers a much cleaner operation. The amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere is reduced by 50 percent, and energy savings reach 70 percent in the plastic recycling process.

Plastic bags are also responsible for hundreds of thousands of animal deaths at sea and on land. Sea turtles are extremely vulnerable because the floating plastic bags resemble jellyfish, the turtles' main source of food. Other marine animals, as well as dogs, goats, cows and other animals on land, have died after eating plastic bags.

Use of recycled plastic

The process of recycling plastic bags and other plastics results in recycled plastic and returns clean plastic pellets used in products ranging from carpet to ski jacket insulation to composite lumber and decking.

meclean.ru

Where to Put Plastic Bags. Options for Solving the Issue

Plastic bags are a common thing in the kitchen. They appear in the house with products from stores and supermarkets and simply in the form of packaging. Each of us would like to reduce the negative impact of polyethylene on the environment, and for this we use cellophane bags for the second or even third time. So you have to hide them throughout the kitchen so that you can use them again after a while. But the number of cellophane bags awaiting a second use grows exponentially, and begins to cause irritation. Some cannot withstand the attack of polyethylene and throw everything away en masse. But only to make room for new plastic bags. To put your nervous system in order, read our tips on where to put plastic bags and how to store plastic bags.

Ecological option.

Almost every city has a recycling collection point. At such points, used batteries, plastic, polyethylene, rubber tires, and used batteries are accepted. To find where to drop off plastic bags in your city, just google plastic collection points on the Internet. Collect all the bags in a large bag (sorry for the tautology) and go donate. In addition to the feeling of satisfaction received from your contribution to the environmental condition of your city, you will receive money from the recyclables acceptors. Maybe small, but still.

Read about the creation, use and disposal of plastic bags on Wikipedia.

Economical option.

Not a single hardware store will offer you an option on how to store plastic bags at home. If you visit online stores, you can choose a suitable option for yourself in which to store plastic bags - a kind of organizer in which plastic bags are placed on top and taken out through a special hole. Such containers from the Internet can be placed on the table, hung on a hook on the work wall, on a door handle, or hung in a niche under the sink. They are made of plastic or metal, have all kinds of shapes and colors. But, each of us knows how to count money. And no one needs additional expenses in the form of purchasing a container for cellophane. Therefore, we suggest choosing for yourself not only where to store plastic bags, but also how. It is convenient to store plastic bags in:

• paper napkin packaging. Those who do not use such napkins can successfully use a tea box. In general, any cardboard, metal, or plastic box will do. The compact size allows you to keep this container in any kitchen drawer. To ensure maximum convenience, you can cut a hole in the top of the box.
• plastic bottle. Cut off the bottom and neck of the bottle (determine the required volume yourself). Then put the bags in it and use it with pleasure. Craftswomen and creative individuals can decorate the bottle with decor. This design is also convenient because it can be attached from the inside of any kitchen door.
• Continuing the theme of the plastic bottle, containers for liquid detergent or washing powder are suitable for the role of bag storage.
• knitted bag. It costs nothing for needlewomen to crochet or knit a cellophane storage bag from leftover yarn. If you have an old knitted item in your house that no one is going to wear, then you can make storage for cellophane bags from the sleeve of the item. Stretch a lace or braid on both sides of the cut sleeve and tighten. The result will be something like candy or sausage (whatever you like).
• embroidered doll-bag. To make such a doll, we use our imagination and take a creative approach to the storage of cellophane. In the finished doll, the sewing pattern for which is available on the Internet, we place a capacious bag under the skirt. We will store the packages in this bag. To prevent them from falling out, we tighten the bottom of the bag with an elastic band.
• knitted bag made of plastic bags. If you know how to knit, then instead of yarn to create bag storage, use cellophane. This, by the way, relates to the question of where plastic bags can be used.
• paper towel or foil roll. If there are not too many bags, you can hide them in a cardboard sleeve left over after using paper towels or foil. You can store these sticks with plastic bags inside anywhere.
• spice basket in packaging. In such a container, which is a colored basket, it is convenient to store folded large bags in a vertical position, having previously tied them with a rubber band.

How to compactly fold plastic bags.

We have decided on the type of cellophane storage. However, we all understand that if you try to stuff all the bags in a crowd, the capacity suffers. But if you fold the bags compactly, then many more bags will fit into the organizer or storage bag. Folding them in a neat order will not only increase the number of bags in the “bag storage”, but also align them.

• triangle folding. Level the bag on a flat surface. Fold it in half lengthwise and then a couple more times. Holding the bottom edge of the bag from the fold, bend it into a triangle. Next, we continue to bend the triangle to the very top. Such a tiny triangle takes up little space.

If you are folding a large plastic bag with handles into a triangle, then tuck the handles of the bag into the triangle. Then they won't hang around.

• rolling into a tube. We flatten the bag on the table, and then fold it several times to form a strip. We wrap the strip around two fingers, rather than using the wrapped handles of the bag to secure the bag. To do this, we wrap the handles around a ring from a bag.

We simply fold large, rigid bags in half or three. This will be the solution to the problem of how to fold plastic bags into a box. Any of these methods of folding cellophane allows you to identify torn, dirty or old bags during the folding process and dispose of them.

How can you use plastic bags?

Giving cellophane bags a second life is not only possible, but also necessary (we don’t keep them in vain, do we?). Plastic bags can be used for:

• cleaning up after pets while walking outside. When going for a walk with your four-legged pet, put several plastic bags in your pocket to use as gloves when cleaning up after the animal.
• work in the garden plot. By putting such a plastic bag on your palm, you can safely dig into the ground without fear of getting your hands dirty.
• garbage. Do not buy special garbage bags, but use used bags available in your house.
• protect brushes from drying out. After working with paints and varnishes, wrap the brush in a bag to prevent it from drying out.
• sending parcels by mail. Wrap the parcel or parcel in bags, then the recipient will receive the item or thing you sent safe and sound.
• insulation of plants in the off-season. Many people know how dangerous spring frosts are. Therefore, you can cover the seedlings with bags at night. A kind of mini-greenhouse will protect young sensitive plants.
• knitting bags and rugs. Colored polyethylene rugs would be appropriate in the hallway. And in a plastic bag you can not only store old bags, but also go with it to the grocery store.
• repeat purchases. Everything is clear here.
• visits to medical institutions. Plastic bags can be used instead of shoe covers. By wearing bags on your shoes, you will save on shoe covers. You still have to throw away this and that.

What can replace plastic bags.

You can reduce the amount of cellophane in the kitchen and in the house by using the following instead of bags:

• paper bags.
• translucent bags made of tulle.
• large shopping bags made from environmentally friendly materials. Such bags are sold in shops and supermarkets near the cash register.
• foil. Wrapping sandwiches and other foods in foil is much more convenient.
• cling film. Similar to the previous point.

As practice shows, you can’t do without plastic bags, but it’s possible to reduce the amount of plastic you use and tidy up your kitchen.

Video about how to conveniently store packages