View source for How to recycle plastics

=Overview=
Various methods for [[recycling]] plastics as we learn about them.

==Float sorting==
# Shred the plastic bottles, caps and all.
# Dump into a hot water bath
#* this both cleans and sorts because the caps are made from HDPE, which floats, and the PET the bottle is made from sinks
# Skim the HDPE off the top and store separately
# Remove the remaining plastic from the bottom of the hot water bath
#* this should be PET plastic and labeling
# Take the PET and labeling mix and put into another water bath containing caustic soda ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hydroxide| sodium hydroxide] or lye)
#* this removes the labeling which then floats to the top
# Skim off the labeling
# Remove and rinse the now clean plastic
#* rinsing cleans off the caustic soda
# Dry the plastic