Chemists tackle the tough challenge of recycling mixed plastics

Re:Chemists tackle the tough challenge of recycling mixed pl... by kurthr on Tuesday May 02, 2023 @01:27AM (#35783709)

Your yogurt cup is almost always PP (Polyproylene) Type 5 to maintain stiffness at large size. In that case the answer is throw it in the garbage, they're going to burn it or send it to China/Africa anyway.

The one that blows my mind is washing aluminum cans (or steel). How do you think they're going to get the plastic coating off the cans and remelt it?

I mean don't recycle a full can, but they have washers for recycled materials too.

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Re:Chemists tackle the tough challenge of recycling mixed pl... by tivert on Tuesday May 02, 2023 @02:21AM (#35784014)

> The one that blows my mind is washing aluminum cans (or steel). How do you think they're going to get the plastic coating off the cans and remelt it?

> I mean don't recycle a full can, but they have washers for recycled materials too.

I'm sure they have washers, too, but how well will they work for sticky, dried on stuff?

Also washing helps prevent the bin from getting smelly.

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Re:Chemists tackle the tough challenge of recycling mixed pl... by was_a_dev on Tuesday May 02, 2023 @02:41AM (#35784152)

It all ends up as slag when smelted

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