
Making effective reuse of waste plastics…
Recycling and reusing waste products has been high on the agenda for people across the world for the past 20 years, with it climbing ever higher up the list in recent years.
Here I explain how one of our partner suppliers WELA Plast is incorporating recycling into its materials, and how design engineers can use it to design greener projects.
If you’ve been through the fruit and vegetable aisle in a supermarket in the past few years, you’ll have probably come across ‘wonky’ produce. These are fruits and vegetables that don’t meet the conventional size or shape requirements of producers. In the past, such produce was often discarded on the basis of being unprofitable, but as awareness of food waste has grown, wonky produce has grown in popularity.

The ‘wonky’ vegetables are chosen because they are either misshapen, have growth cracks or are smaller or larger than average ( AFP/Getty ) Supermarkets should sell.
We can think of wonky produce as symbolic of the shift in society towards a less wasteful, more resourceful economy.
Recycling plastic products…
We’re seeing a similar mentality shift in the materials industry, not least of all for plastics. Plastic products have been widely manufactured and used for the past half a century and most of this plastic is still around today, albeit not in a way that is providing value to people. A team of scientists analysed production data and concluded that 91 per cent of plastics are not recycled. And if you take a swim at the beach, you’ll see evidence of this — plastic litter is everywhere.
However, the recycling of plastic products at the point of use is only part of the solution. During the plastic production process and product manufacturing, waste material is usually produced due to the subtractive manufacturing process that many manufacturers use. Often, this scrap material is not considered to be useful and it becomes waste.

As a materials sourcing platform and database, we at Matmatch strive to help design engineers choose the ideal materials for their projects, whether that is based on its impact strength, density or sustainability. So, we’re always keen on highlighting the green credentials of our suppliers. And in tackling plastic waste in manufacturing, WELA-Plast is producing high-quality thermoplastics from the waste of manufacturers.
Transforming waste into a new raw material



WELA Plast uses the production waste and faulty batches from manufacturers, as well as overproduction from plastic-processing companies and commercial waste recycled granulates, to produce a multitude of plastics ideal for extrusion, injection moulding and film applications. These plastics include high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density PE (LDPE), polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polypropylene (PP).
Crucially, there is little difference between the properties of these recycled materials and newly created plastics. As such, it’s more environmentally-friendly to use these recycled materials, and as we’ve seen governments around the world introducing new ways of taxing manufacturers for the use and end-of-life management of plastic products, this can lead to lower overall costs.



Where to use recycled plastics?
If, for example, a design engineer is developing a new range of laser printers and is determining the material to use for the roller gears, using a recycled thermoplastic such as an ABS for injection moulding would offer the same application benefits — good natural lubricity, high heat resistance, durability — but in a more resourceful way.
It’s all about sustainability
It’s a seemingly simple step, but it’s one that takes us closer to the circular economy where nothing is wasted, only reprocessed and reused. A bit like buying wonky produce, choosing to source recycled materials is a decision that allows design engineers to get the same net result without the same environmental impact.
Syed Farrukh Rasheed
Send details please
Pamela
Hi I live in El Salvador (Central América) and I would like to know how much it cost invest on that technologies.
Paphani
I want to know how much the machine costs and I’m in Gaborone, Botswana
Ana
Hi i live in Honduras, and i would like to know more details about price and the machine.
sofiane
hi, i am from algeria it a good project .more details pls
Kumar Manish
Please send details how it’s start
Amritpal Singh
Send full details please
Rahul
Intrested in plastic recycling
Ashok varma
I have plastic recycling company. Can I know how to forward next step
Muhammad Asif Sohail
What a great idea to recycle the wasted plastic bottles. If we recycled remaining 90 % waste , it will be a great achievement to keep the planet clean and grean and best gift to next generation. Send me more information in details about this process, please. Thanks.
Parash binadi
M intrested to know in detail . How it cost . Can we give skill traning to differently able people .what is the cost..
Adrian Clement adrianissango20
Hi am in Tanzania surrounded with west plastic material am interested to get a mashine for recycling the west. Therefor I need to know how much it cost to get a machine,
Muhammad Ali Zul Saqlain
Hi, I am interested in this technology. Please send details and guide me how to start it and how much it will cost? What are the requirements for installation area and building, etc. I need everything in detail.
Regards,
Riaz Ahmed
Its very useful but want to know about its capicity and price
M.usman
Im interested Need details
Vijay
Interested plz send me details vijay.hukkeri9@gmail.com
Salve Marie B. Adelantar
Wonderful idea actually.but how much does it cost?can ordinary people like me who do not have much can avail it?im very interested with it.can i have some more information on this and the cost?thank u very much.
Lata Bhatia
Very interesting. Do give more details on this.
Rafi
Hi, I would like to know the details of the recycling machines, price. Where are the markets for the recycled products.
Papis
Hi im from senegal west afrika can we have more details please
Goldy
Hello im from Hoshiarpur punjab (India) can we have more details please & price
Marta Danylenko
Hi everyone, thank you for writing to us. Matmatch is a materials database that connects engineers and materials experts with suppliers.
In this article, we told a story of our supplier WELA-Plast GmbH and how they create new materials out of used plastic. But they definitely work on a large scale and have a big plant.
If you are interested in a small-scale solution, unfortunately, there is no “magic machine” that can recycle all plastic on the planet. Yet. But some people are trying to make a difference. For instance, Dave Hakkens started a project where he teaches the public how to build a DIY plastic recycling machine. It’s called Precious plastic. They even have videos of how to assemble your own recycling machine.
Check it out: preciousplastic.com ☺️
JACOB FRANCIS
Hi I am JACOB FRANCIS from Bangalore India from a middle class family can I get to know how much will cost. Is there any assistance that you will provide.
Ashokbhai Bhoraniya
I intrest
Prashanth hegde
IAM intersted
Chitaranjan Mohanty
i want know about the technology , equipmen or machine to be used for the same
Usman
Please send me the details. I am very interested to save our environment and make our beautiful nation aware about opportunity……
Alok Narad
Pl send your details
Samantha silva
Would like to know more details I am from Sri Lanka
Sameer Kamble
I’m interested, plz send machine details & about recycling career
Rizwan
Pl send your details
Mohit
Send Details
Mohan
At this point of time its our duty to recycle and save the planet from plastic phobea.
Pl send the details