1. Collection

• Waste plastics are collected from various sources such as households, industries, and commercial establishments.
• Types of plastic include polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and others.

2. Segregation

• Plastics are sorted based on type (e.g., PPCP, HDPE, PP), color, and quality.
• Manual or automated sorting systems are used, often employing techniques like infrared sorting or flotation tanks.

3. Cleaning and Washing

• Plastics are washed to remove dirt, labels, glue, oils, and other contaminants.
• This step often involves the use of detergents and hot water.

4. Shredding

• Clean plastics are shredded into smaller pieces or flakes using industrial shredders.
• These flakes are easier to handle in subsequent processes.

5. Drying

• The shredded flakes are dried to remove moisture, often using air dryers or centrifuges.

6. Melting and Extrusion

• Dried plastic flakes are fed into an extruder where they are melted under controlled temperatures.
• The molten plastic is filtered to remove any remaining impurities.

7. Granulation

• The molten plastic is extruded into thin strands, which are cooled in water baths and then cut into uniform granules or pellets using a granulator.

8. Cooling and Packaging

• Granules are cooled further, either through air or water.
• They are then packed and stored for sale or further processing.