Whether we’re aware of it or not, we rely on plastic products everyday. From makeup and kitchenware to medical tools and storage, this amazing material has completely changed our world — but as our reliance on these products increase, so must our awareness. While we use “plastic” as a blanket term, there are many different types of plastics and different protocols for reusing and recycling them correctly. PP, PET, HDPE, LDPE, and PSE are all commonly used plastics, but they are not created equally.

We’re going to take a close look at recycling polypropylene and the many uses of the plastic polypropylene (PP), found in everything from bottle caps, straws and disposable diapers, but more importantly we’re going to review the strategies for its re-use and recycling so we can better protect our environment.

Is polypropylene (PP) plastic recyclable?

Polypropylene, which is often shortened to “PP,” is a thermoplastic polymer which is widely used for many applications. It is also used by many industries, including automotive, medical and retail to create many types of products. For example, polypropylene fabric is used to create textiles for upholstery, industrial, and manufacturing. As a result, polypropylene recycling has become a necessary function of the polypropylene lifecycle.

PP can be recycled into many different types of products, including fibers for clothing, industrial materials, kitchenware and more.

Can you recycle polypropylene bags?

Polypropylene bags are woven using fabric fibers, they are typically made almost entirely of plastic, which means they are both fully recyclable and reusable. But recycling polypropylene bags is a process. PP bags must be collected, sorted, shredded, separated by color, and then compounded in order to be processed effectively. The recycling of polypropylene bags, and PP as a whole, is important to protecting our environment.  Only about 1% of PP is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills where it slowly decomposes and can release hazardous fumes and chemicals.

These polymer fabrics are often bought in bulk, in the form of a PP woven fabric roll which can then be used to create sacks for sandbags, bulk coffee, rice and other dry goods. So, as you can see woven polypropylene bags come in many forms, which may make it tougher to spot what’s recyclable and what’s not — but, polypropylene fabric, no matter what it’s end use, is recyclable.

The importance & challenges of polypropylene recycling

Recycling PP is critical when it comes to minimizing waste and protecting our environment.  Also, sustainability is one of the most talked about aspects of plastic products today. Like many other types of plastic, PP is an incredible material which has changed the way we live our lives, but when abused or disposed of improperly, it can be toxic and harmful to the environment.

Products made of PP which are dumped in landfills can take around 20-30 years to completely decompose, and unfortunately, most residential recycling receptacles and local recycling centers are not equipped to recycle PP, which requires either companies or individual consumers to seek out companies which handle polypropylene recycling. These key sustainability factors are crucial to bolstering pp’s environmental benefits.

Environmental benefits of recycling PP

Aside from minimizing what’s chucked into the landfills, recycling PP reduces the amount of plastic being produced from scratch, which also reduces the environmental impact of ground pollution, greenhouse and landfill gasses.

Recycling PP also helps conserve natural resources (e.g. timber, water and minerals) and conserves energy. It’s estimated that 8% of all of the oil used in the world (around 400 million tons) is used in plastic manufacturing.

In fact, according to Waste Management, recycling one ton of plastic saves:

  • 5,774 kilowatt-hours of energy
  • 16.3 barrels (685 gallons) of oil
  • 30 cubic yards of landfill space

The polypropylene recycle process: How to recycle polypropylene plastic

Currently, plastics including PP, PS and LDPE can’t be recycled by curbside programs. Usually, they end up getting stuck in sorting equipment and can cause mechanical issues. The recycling process of polypropylene involves several phases, which include:

  • Collection
  • Sorting and cleaning
  • Shredding
  • Separation
  • Compounding
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