What Plastics Can Become

As landfills continue to grow at a rate the country is trying to keep pace with, small businesses across the US as well as in other countries are finding ways to repurpose one of the items found readily in those landfills – plastic. Most plastics are made of organic polymers, with a high molecular mass, but are also combined with chemicals and other synthetic materials, that do not make them suitable for recycling. Other plastics like polylactic acid (PLA) and high density polyetylene (HDPE) are suitable for making renewable products that allow us to reduce our carbon footprint.

Here in the US, and in other developed countries, recycled plastics are being used to manufacture a wide variety of commercial items and products, including: milk jugs and plastic bottles; plastic decking and outdoor furniture; lawn and garden products; toilet partitions; cutting boards; storage lockers; playground equipment; building construction; office products; automobile parts, carpeting; and even clothing. And thanks to our human ingenuity and creativity, plastics are being considered for use in other unusual ways, even for making roadways. “The Plastic Road” is a project concept developed by an engineering firm in Europe. They expect to have a usable case study by the end of this year.

The state of Texas has also been used as a pilot state for a similar use of recycled plastics. Dykes Paving,  an Atlanta based small business, holds several patents in recycling inventions. The firm conducted a study to find an innovative way to use recycled plastic bottles to reduce the costs of the state’s road repair bills. Because much of the state’s vast network of roads is built from clay, which causes the roads to crack and buckle, the idea was to support the crumbling clay using recycled plastic bottles as “pins”. This would provide sustainable materials for long-term use, and lessen both the environmental impact as well as the financial burden on the state. This small business is not alone in its innovative thinking by using plastic products as they relate to sustainability.

Because of its strength, durability and ease of recyling, one of the most commonly used plastics in the U.S. in the manufacture of products made from recycled plastic is HDPE, labeled #2 for recycling purposes.

An industry leader in the manufacture of products made from recycled HDPE, Scranton Products is committed to developing and using sustainable building products that reduce plastic waste and keep it from landfills. We manufacture high quality bathroom partitions, lockers and other products that offer many advantages due to the inherent strengths of HDPE plastic. These products will never absorb moisture; are dent and scratch resistant; don’t support the growth of mold or bacteria; never need painting; and are 100% recyclable.

If you are interested in sustainability, and wish to learn more about our products and our corporate commitment to people and our planet, please visit our website.