This flowchart shows the differences and similarities in the life cycles of glass and plastic containers, from creation and use to recycling and re-creation.
This diagram reveals both similarities and differences in the way that plastic and glass goods are made, recycled, and then made anew. The processes have more differences than similarities, but there are some more significant differences in the earlier stages of the recycling process.
The initial collection and transport of both goods are the same. However, after that, glass is sorted by color and may then be immediately crushed, while plastic is sorted by quality and must be bundled before it can be shredded.
Once the glass is crushed and the plastic is shredded, the processes become more similar again. At this point, both the glass and plastic pieces are washed, and then melted and reshaped into new products. These final steps are nearly identical, although the melting and reshaping of the glass must be done by two separate machines rather than one.
This flowchart
shows
the
differences
and similarities in the life cycles of
glass
and
plastic
containers, from creation and
use
to recycling and re-creation.
This diagram reveals both similarities and
differences
in the way that
plastic
and
glass
goods
are made
, recycled, and then made anew. The processes have more
differences
than similarities,
but
there are
some
more significant
differences
in the earlier stages of the recycling process.
The initial collection and transport of both
goods
are the same.
However
, after that,
glass
is sorted
by color and may then be immediately crushed, while
plastic
is sorted
by quality and
must
be bundled
before
it can
be shredded
.
Once the
glass
is crushed
and the
plastic
is shredded
, the processes become more similar again. At this point, both the
glass
and
plastic
pieces
are washed
, and then melted and reshaped into new products. These final steps are
nearly
identical, although the melting and reshaping of the
glass
must
be done
by two separate machines
rather
than one.