Plastic is an extremely versatile material and it can be used and re-used in many ways. At Coda Plastics, we re-use around 90% of any waste we produce, and we love hearing about the weird and wonderful ways that people are repurposing plastic products. Here are three innovative plastic recyclers that have caught our attention.
1. Diesel from Plastic Bags
The government tax on single-use plastic bags has led to an astonishing 85% drop in their use in the UK. It's a step in the right direction, encouraging more people to re-use their plastic bags (we all have hundreds under the kitchen sink) or invest in a bag for life. There are still billions of plastic bags out there, and researchers in Illinois have published a paper to show how they can be turned into diesel fuel.
2. Plastic Cord from Soft Drinks Bottles
One inventive man has made a short YouTube video demonstrating how to turn PET soft drinks bottles into a cord strong enough to tow a car. We hope it inspires other people to get creative with their DIY!
3. Roads from Landfill Plastic Waste
This has been going on in India since the 1990s, and it's amazing. Thousands of roads have been built by mixing plastic waste, all recovered from landfill sites, with asphalt. The roads last longer than regular roads and stand up better to the extreme weather conditions encountered during India's monsoon season. The founder of the project, Ahmed Khan, told the New York Times:
"We need to start looking at plastic as a raw material rather than waste."
At Coda Plastics, we couldn't agree more with Mr Khan. We recycle as much of our own waste as possible and even take in waste from other companies to use as our raw material. If you have an idea that you think we could manufacture with plastic, then drop an email to sales@coda-plastics.co.uk or call +44 1692 501020.
To keep up-to-date with all of our news and the latest innovations in plastic and recycling, follow Coda Plastics on Facebook and on Twitter at @CodaPlastics.