Day Eight:

Extension #1: What Happens to Recycled Milk Jugs?
A Slide Show on the ACC Web Site

Link to slide show

Any bottle that is labeled #2 is HDPE and can be recycled IF the bottle has not been exposed to ultraviolet radiation for an extended period of time. The HOP 2 Kit contains samples of HDPE flake and plastic lumber. A group of slides that were taken at Environmental Recycling, Inc., 8000 Hall Street, St. Louis, MO 63147 will show how plastic lumber is made.

The name of the company in St. Louis, MO that makes plastic lumber and sheeting.
A display of the HDPE (#2 Recycled Code) bottles and containers used in making plastic lumber and sheeting.
Boxes of HDPE containers ready for making “flake”.
The bottles and containers are chopped-up into small pieces called “flake or regrind” in this machine.
Flake or regrind is stored in boxes until it is ready to be processed into a mass of hot mix. The flake pictured will be used to make black two by fours for park benches.
This is the container where the mix is melted and ready to be forced into the die to make lumber.
The two by four is emerging from the machine. It is very warm.
The two by four is pushed through a long trough of water to cool it before being cut into lengths.
The lumber is cut to the length specified by the customer.
Since the board shrinks when it cools, the board is made larger than the dimensions of a “two by four” (which are actually less than two inches by four inches). Here the board is planed to size and uniformity. The mass of a 2x6x12” piece is about 3.3 lbs.
Red wood, gray, blue and black lumber is waiting for shipping.
- 14. The finished products are displayed. Look at the picnic table, deck, gazebo and playground system made from plastic lumber. Moisture has no effect on this product and so it can sit out in the weather and not deteriorate. Nails cannot be easily driven into the lumber since it is so dense (similar to oak) but drilling holes and using deck screws or carriage bolts is recommended. It does not require painting. It does not splinter or crack and it is impermeable to insect attack. It can be used in fencing, sign posts, planter boxes, docks, pallets, and playground equipment.