What are the most common types of plastic recycling? Recycling mechanical Chemical recycling Energetic recycling Recycling mechanical is the cheape...

The most common types of plastic recycling are mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, and energetic recycling. - Mechanical recycling: This technique involves sorting, cleaning, and shredding plastic waste into small pieces, which are then melted and molded into new products. It is the cheapest technique and maintains a good quality of the product. However, not all types of plastics can be mechanically recycled, such as acrylic, foam, pot handles, plugs, cookie packaging, disposable diapers, pens, and plastics with metals. - Chemical recycling: This method is ideal for treating plastic mixtures, as it avoids the need for material selection and pre-treatment. It involves breaking down the plastic into its chemical components through processes like depolymerization or pyrolysis. The product obtained from chemical recycling is of high quality and has the same characteristics as the original product. However, the cost of chemical recycling is still very high and not attractive to companies. - Energetic recycling: Also known as waste-to-energy, this type of recycling involves converting plastic waste into energy through processes like incineration or gasification. The heat generated during these processes is used to produce electricity or heat. While energetic recycling helps reduce the volume of plastic waste and generates energy, it is not considered a true recycling method as it does not produce new plastic products. It's important to note that the choice of recycling method depends on various factors such as the type of plastic, its contamination level, market demand, and economic viability.