Recycling can be done with many different raw materials. Recycling helps create more sustainable economies by lowering costs and reducing harm to the environment from raw materials. Not all materials are easy to recycle, and sorting recyclable materials into the right waste groups takes a lot of energy.
Aluminium recycling is the process of making new aluminium from old or no longer useful aluminium, such as scrap metal. This process involves melting the metal again, which uses less energy and costs less than creating new aluminium from raw materials. New aluminium is usually made by using electricity to separate alumina (Al₂O₃) from raw bauxite, a process that involves the Bayer and Hall–Héroult methods.
Container-deposit laws, also called deposit-refund systems, are rules that require a small amount of money to be collected when people buy drink containers. This money is given back to the person who returns the container to an approved place, like a store or a special center. These laws are designed to help people recycle more and reduce waste.
Tao Kae Noi (Thai: เถ้าแก่น้อย) is a Thai snack made from crispy seaweed. It was started in 2004 by Itthipat Peeradechapan, who was 19 years old at the time. Taokaenoi Food & Marketing PCL (SET: TKN, บริษัท เถ้าแก่น้อย ฟู๊ดแอนด์มาร์เก็ตติ้ง จำกัด) is a company that makes and sells crispy seaweed snacks.
Polylactic acid, also called poly(lactic acid) or polylactide (PLA), is a type of plastic. It is a thermoplastic polyester (or polyhydroxyalkanoate) with a repeating unit formula of (C₃H₄O₂)ₙ or [–C(CH₃)HC(=O)O–]ₙ. PLA is created when lactic acid, C(CH₃)(OH)HCOOH, undergoes a chemical reaction that removes water.
Biodegradable polymers are materials that can be broken down by living things. Most polymers are made to last a long time, but biodegradable polymers are not. These polymers can come from natural materials, petroleum-based chemicals, or a mix of both.
Bioplastics are types of plastic made from renewable materials like plants and other living things. They are important in the bioeconomy and circular economy, which focus on using resources wisely and reducing waste. Traditional plastics made from oil are often mixed with bioplastics to create products that have some bioplastic content.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a common type of plastic in the polyester family. It is used to make clothing fibers, containers for liquids and food, parts for manufacturing, and combined with glass fiber for engineering materials. In 2020, the world produced 82 million tons of PET each year.
Polyethylene, also called polythene (PE), is the most widely made plastic. It is a type of polymer, mainly used for packaging, such as plastic bags, films, containers, bottles, cups, jars, and folders. As of 2017, more than 100 million tons of polyethylene resins are produced each year, making up 34% of all plastic production.
Nylon is a group of man-made materials made from repeating units connected by chemical bonds called amide links. These units are often linked to different types of chemical groups. Nylons are usually brown and feel soft.