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3 books on Plastic Recycling [PDF]
September 16, 2025 | 28 |
These books are covering the history of plastic waste, innovative recycling techniques, global environmental impacts, challenges in waste management, the economics of recycling, etc.
1. Plastic Waste Crisis: Innovative Solutions, Global Action, and Pathways to a Sustainable Future
2025 by Robert C. Brears
This AI book tells how our civilization came to the plastic crisis. In the early 20th century, plastic revolutionized the way people produced and consumed goods. Initially, plastic production was relatively small-scale: the first synthetic plastic, Bakelite (for kitchenware), was created in 1907, followed by polystyrene (for household goods) and polyethylene (for bags) in the 1920s. The secret of plastic's success was its low cost and ability to take on a variety of shapes. The real growth of plastic production began in the post-war era. Advances in polymer chemistry led to an increase use of plastic in packaging, consumer goods and the automotive industry. Plastic began to replace traditional materials such as glass, metal and wood. By the 1980s and 1990s plastic had become an integral part of almost every industry. It was used not only in packaging and consumer goods, but also in electronics, medical equipment, textiles and even construction. Packaging (bottles, bags) remains the largest consumer, accounting for almost 40% of the world's total production. During the recent years use of plastic in cars has increased significantly: it replaces metal and glass in parts such as panels, bumpers, dashboards and even engine parts. The textile industry also actively uses plastic in the production of synthetic fibers - polyester, nylon and acrylic. Plastic is used in medical devices, syringes, droppers, surgical instruments and diagnostic equipment. Healthcare values plastic for its sterility, lightness and low cost. However, disposable products pose a special disposal problem.
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2. Plastic Waste and Recycling: Environmental Impact, Societal Issues, Prevention, and Solutions
2020 by Trevor M. Letcher
This book gives some interesting details about plastic recycling. According to statistics, the average global recycling rate for plastic is less than 20% today (less than 9% in US). While we use the word “recycling” to describe all the ways plastic can be put to good use, it should only be applied (according to the author) to plastic products that are reused or recycled into similar or different types of products. Some solutions to the plastic waste problem involve breaking down the plastic material. True recycling is rare and even the plastic bottles we sort each week may not remain bottles but may be hydrolyzed into monomers and then polymerized back into PET to make a variety of products, including carpeting. PET is the most successfully recycled plastic. One of the problems with recycling plastic waste is the difficulty of separating the different types of plastic. To help with this, special symbols are often placed on plastic packaging: 1 - PET (polyethylene terephthalate) - used to make water and beverage bottles. 2 - LDPE (high-density polyethylene) - for shampoo bottles, milk bottles. 3 - PVC (polyvinyl chloride) - for water pipes. 4 - HDPE (low-density polyethylene) - for common plastic bags and cling film. 5 - PP (polypropylene) - for lids and plastic bags. 6 - PS (polystyrene) - for plastic cups, cutlery. Mixed plastic packaging (trays, cups, pots) made from plastics such as PS and polyurethane cannot be easily recycled. The collected plastic is first sorted by polymer type, then shredded, washed, melted and pelletized before being made into new products such as garbage bags, flower pots, food containers and even polyester fabric.
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3. Introduction to Plastics Recycling
2007 by Vannessa Goodship
This book covers the basics of plastic recycling, for example, what plastics are made of, why they can be recycled and why it can be difficult. The main point is that plastics are mixtures of polymers and other materials. There are many commercially available additives that can be mixed with polymers. For example, glass fiber or carbon fiber reinforcement gives them increased strength. Flame retardants are added to increase resistance to fire. Plastics can be colored with pigments for aesthetic or technical purposes, or they can be made more heat- and light-resistant with stabilizing additives. Blowing agents are used to make foamed plastics, such as those used in furniture cushions or fast-food containers. Foamed plastics gain a number of unique properties, such as reduced density and thermal and acoustic insulation. This is why plastics have been able to compete so successfully with other materials. To simplify recycling, release agents are included in the composition of plastics. These agents also provide anti-adhesive properties, ensuring easy removal of parts from molds during the manufacturing process. In addition, plastics include plasticizers - these are additives with a low molecular weight that are used to reduce the viscosity of materials and facilitate their processing. The most common use of plasticizers is in PVC, where they are introduced to give rigid PVC greater flexibility.
Download PDF
How to download PDF:
1. Install Gooreader
2. Enter Book ID to the search box and press Enter
3. Click "Download Book" icon and select PDF*
* - note that for yellow books only preview pages are downloaded
1. Plastic Waste Crisis: Innovative Solutions, Global Action, and Pathways to a Sustainable Future
2025 by Robert C. Brears
This AI book tells how our civilization came to the plastic crisis. In the early 20th century, plastic revolutionized the way people produced and consumed goods. Initially, plastic production was relatively small-scale: the first synthetic plastic, Bakelite (for kitchenware), was created in 1907, followed by polystyrene (for household goods) and polyethylene (for bags) in the 1920s. The secret of plastic's success was its low cost and ability to take on a variety of shapes. The real growth of plastic production began in the post-war era. Advances in polymer chemistry led to an increase use of plastic in packaging, consumer goods and the automotive industry. Plastic began to replace traditional materials such as glass, metal and wood. By the 1980s and 1990s plastic had become an integral part of almost every industry. It was used not only in packaging and consumer goods, but also in electronics, medical equipment, textiles and even construction. Packaging (bottles, bags) remains the largest consumer, accounting for almost 40% of the world's total production. During the recent years use of plastic in cars has increased significantly: it replaces metal and glass in parts such as panels, bumpers, dashboards and even engine parts. The textile industry also actively uses plastic in the production of synthetic fibers - polyester, nylon and acrylic. Plastic is used in medical devices, syringes, droppers, surgical instruments and diagnostic equipment. Healthcare values plastic for its sterility, lightness and low cost. However, disposable products pose a special disposal problem.
Download PDF
2. Plastic Waste and Recycling: Environmental Impact, Societal Issues, Prevention, and Solutions
2020 by Trevor M. Letcher
This book gives some interesting details about plastic recycling. According to statistics, the average global recycling rate for plastic is less than 20% today (less than 9% in US). While we use the word “recycling” to describe all the ways plastic can be put to good use, it should only be applied (according to the author) to plastic products that are reused or recycled into similar or different types of products. Some solutions to the plastic waste problem involve breaking down the plastic material. True recycling is rare and even the plastic bottles we sort each week may not remain bottles but may be hydrolyzed into monomers and then polymerized back into PET to make a variety of products, including carpeting. PET is the most successfully recycled plastic. One of the problems with recycling plastic waste is the difficulty of separating the different types of plastic. To help with this, special symbols are often placed on plastic packaging: 1 - PET (polyethylene terephthalate) - used to make water and beverage bottles. 2 - LDPE (high-density polyethylene) - for shampoo bottles, milk bottles. 3 - PVC (polyvinyl chloride) - for water pipes. 4 - HDPE (low-density polyethylene) - for common plastic bags and cling film. 5 - PP (polypropylene) - for lids and plastic bags. 6 - PS (polystyrene) - for plastic cups, cutlery. Mixed plastic packaging (trays, cups, pots) made from plastics such as PS and polyurethane cannot be easily recycled. The collected plastic is first sorted by polymer type, then shredded, washed, melted and pelletized before being made into new products such as garbage bags, flower pots, food containers and even polyester fabric.
Download PDF
3. Introduction to Plastics Recycling
2007 by Vannessa Goodship
This book covers the basics of plastic recycling, for example, what plastics are made of, why they can be recycled and why it can be difficult. The main point is that plastics are mixtures of polymers and other materials. There are many commercially available additives that can be mixed with polymers. For example, glass fiber or carbon fiber reinforcement gives them increased strength. Flame retardants are added to increase resistance to fire. Plastics can be colored with pigments for aesthetic or technical purposes, or they can be made more heat- and light-resistant with stabilizing additives. Blowing agents are used to make foamed plastics, such as those used in furniture cushions or fast-food containers. Foamed plastics gain a number of unique properties, such as reduced density and thermal and acoustic insulation. This is why plastics have been able to compete so successfully with other materials. To simplify recycling, release agents are included in the composition of plastics. These agents also provide anti-adhesive properties, ensuring easy removal of parts from molds during the manufacturing process. In addition, plastics include plasticizers - these are additives with a low molecular weight that are used to reduce the viscosity of materials and facilitate their processing. The most common use of plasticizers is in PVC, where they are introduced to give rigid PVC greater flexibility.
Download PDF
How to download PDF:
1. Install Gooreader
2. Enter Book ID to the search box and press Enter
3. Click "Download Book" icon and select PDF*
* - note that for yellow books only preview pages are downloaded
