How to Recycle Plastic Bottles and Keep Them Out of the Environment
A bottle is usually a small, narrow-necked bottle typically made of some kind of plastic, glass, ceramic or porcelain material that can be closed at its neck with a metal lid or an inner stopper, an outwardly protruding bottle cap, or even a conductive “inner ring” using sealed magnetic induction sealing. A typical bottle is held in one hand while the other is held over the bottle’s mouth. The bottle’s neck either contains a spout or has one attached. The bottle’s base is typically round and/or flat and is held by a rigid neck strap.
Plastic bottles are the most common type of bottle, especially water bottles. A water bottle’s most basic feature is that it is a thin, narrow tube with a mouth designed to dispense a specific volume of liquid. The bottle is then sealed at its neck by a series of rings, snaps, straps, ties, or other closures designed to prevent spills from reaching the bottom of the bottle. This basic design makes plastic bottles ideal for transportation and easy storage in refrigerators, ice trays, vehicles, and household containers.
Although the convenience of a disposable plastic bottle makes them very popular, there are both environmental and health benefits to using water bottles instead. Because most water bottles are capped at the neck, airtight storage is possible, especially if the bottle is large and the seal around the neck is good, which will keep the contents cool at all times. In addition, plastics made from high quality recycled material will not leak or become brittle over time, preventing the bottle from cracking. Plastic bottle manufacturers are required to provide safe drinking water in containers meeting government safety standards.
Another common recycling program involves reusing other containers, including water bottles. Many cities, counties, and state governments offer public services in picking up and recycling bottles and other container wastes. A great number of these services also offer bottle recovery service in which a company will pick up a container full of recyclable material, and reclaim it for reuse. Recycling programs are becoming more prevalent in all areas of the country as bottle sales decline due to higher costs associated with glass and other bottle alternatives.
While some people still prefer the traditional glass bottle as an environmentally friendly alternative, the trend toward plastic bottles and other container alternatives is on the rise. Because these containers are lightweight and less costly to produce, they make up a much larger portion of the market for bottled beverages. In addition, because these containers can be reused without any additional cost, the actual cost of the bottle often pays for the manufacturing process itself. Plastic, glass, and other container alternatives allow consumers to take responsibility for their own bottle consumption, allowing the companies to offer a variety of different packages, features, and price structures.
Governments, public health officials, and private beverage companies alike are working together to reduce, reuse, and manufacture bottle alternatives that better fit into today’s environmentally conscious consumers. With bottle deposits continuing to diminish, recycled bottle deposits are now an extremely high commodity, making it a practical choice for businesses to invest in them. Recycling programs allow bottle recycling programs to function in a cost effective manner, producing high quality, low cost, and reusable products that benefit society in general.
