Plastic bottles are one of the most common items found littered on our beaches, and dumping them in landfills releases toxic chemicals that leach into water. However, local companies breathe new life into these materials and engage with the circular economy. The Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) lets you return eligible beverage containers for a refund at depots across South Australia. You can keep the refund or donate it to charity. For more sustainable bottle recycling Adelaide, click here. Plastic Bottle Recycling The most common bottles and cans Adelaide recycling centres like Pooraka Bottle and Can Recycling Depot handle qualify for the South Australian government’s container deposit 10-cent refund scheme. These include all glass, plastic and aluminium beverage containers. These drink containers can be returned for a 10-cent refund at collection depots and reverse vending machines across Australia. These bottle return programs are designed to reduce litter, save energy and resources, give bottles a second life and support the environment, local communities and charities. Plastic drink bottles are usually made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE for short), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Each type of plastic melts at different temperatures and has a unique recycling process. They are separated at recycling facilities, where they are turned into food-grade rPET pellets for use in new beverage bottles and other packaging. They can also be recycled to make plastic furniture, polar fleece and garden rakes. Metal lids are recycled to make steel and aluminium products, such as street signs, car parts and brooms. Glass Bottle Recycling Glass bottles and jars are recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely. They can be turned into new glass bottles, fibreglass insulation, water filtration media and even abrasives like sandpaper. Recycling glass also saves energy. Producing glass from recycled material uses 75% less energy than making it from raw materials. The energy saved from recycling one bottle could light a 15-watt low-energy bulb for 24 hours! Soft drinks and water bottles are Adelaide residents’ most common glass bottles handed in for recycling. These are typically clear, brown or green. The colour of the glass is added during manufacturing, as it helps to reflect the sunlight, protecting the contents from sun damage. When recycling glass, it’s essential to ensure it’s clean and free of residue from food or liquid. It can contaminate other recyclables, so placing them in their own recycle bins is best. Removing and placing the caps and lids in the bin is also essential. Metal Bottle Recycling Don’t be discouraged if you have a collection of metal water bottles past their prime – they can still be recycled. Stainless steel can be melted down and reformed into new products, preventing them from ending up in landfills. Recycling can also save energy. Producing aluminium from virgin material uses up to ten times as much electricity as making it from recycled material. Pooraka Bottle and Can Recycling Depot’s team sorts the plastic drink containers for recycling, removing the lids to ensure they don’t get mixed with other materials. The plastics are then turned into fleece jacket insulation, sleeping bags and carpet or re-manufactured into other plastic goods such as buckets, pipes and fencing. Plastic Lid Recycling Leaving the lid on your bottle might seem like a good idea, but it’s essential to check whether or not your local recycling provider wants you to remove the cap. Different plastics have different melting points and require a different recycling process. Plastic bottle caps are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene, while the bottles are usually made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This difference in melting points means that when they’re ground up into flakes and put through a water bath, the plastic lid material will float while the PET bottle will sink. It makes it easy for them to be separated and recycled separately. However, loose lids can contaminate the rest of the recycling as they fall through the sorting machine or are too small to catch. For more sustainable bottle recycling Adelaide, click here.