We take the recycling to the curb knowing basically one thing: they’ll take this bin of recyclable goods away and magically turn it into new products. But many people don’t think of recycling as what it truly is: a manufacturing process.

After the plastics are picked up from the recycling bin, they are separated from the other products, which go through similar processes. Plastic is inspected to make sure it is the right type and all non-processable materials have been removed.

After inspection, plastic is sent for further processing where it is chopped into small pieces and then washed using biodegradable soap products and water. These pellets are similar to traditional plastic pellets in that they can be melted down and used in a variety of plastic manufacturing projects.

The plastic pellets are sorted by type and color and are distributed for the production of new products. Because the new products will be made out of the recycled plastic pellets, it is likely that they will also be recyclable, unless the plastic is compromised by having secondary types of plastic added to it.

If the new products are recyclable, they will go back through the same process again at the end of their life. Although this cannot completely eliminate the need for new plastic, it significantly reduces the quantity of demand for plastic.

The manufacturing process used in recycling plastics is not entirely free of waste and not every element of it can be considered “environmentally friendly” because the recycling process uses high levels of electricity and water. That being said, the manufacturing process for new plastic is arguably worse, so continuing to improve the recycling process is the most sustainable bet for future plastics products manufacturing.