Plastics  are chemical products made up of high molecular weight, long-chain polymers. The production of plastics at the present stage of development is increasing by an average of 5 ... 6% annually.

THERE ARE ABOUT 150 KINDS OF PLASTICS

Of all plastics produced, 41% is used in packaging, of which 47% is used for food packaging. Convenience and safety, low price and high aesthetics are the defining conditions for the accelerated growth in the use of plastics in the manufacture of packaging.

Such high popularity of plastics is explained by their lightness, economy and a set of valuable service properties. Plastics are serious competitors to metal, glass and ceramics. For example, glass bottles require 21% more energy than plastic bottles. But along with this, a problem arises with the disposal of waste, of which there are more than 400 different types, arising from the use of products of the polymer industry.

To convert waste thermoplastics into raw materials suitable for subsequent processing into products, it must be pre-processed. The choice of the pretreatment method depends mainly on the source of waste generation and the degree of their contamination.

Waste in the form of obsolete products requires more thorough preparation. Pre-treatment of agricultural PE film waste, fertilizer bags, waste from other compact sources, as well as mixed waste includes the following steps: sorting (coarse) and identification (for mixed waste), shredding, separation of mixed waste, washing, drying. Thereafter, the material is subjected to granulation.