You probably have soft polyethylene terephthalate or PET bottles in your refrigerator or kitchen cabinets right now. These are the bottles that contain beverages such as soft drinks or water, and sometimes, the containers are used to hold foods. Beverage or food manufacturers use thousands of these bottles each day, and consumers buy products that are in these bottles at their local supermarkets. If you are concerned about all of these bottles going to landfills, then it is important to know that experts have learned how to recycle the items into useful products. Here are five ways that experts are reusing the fibers made from plastic bottles.
Recycled Item 1: Carpeting Materials
When you take PET bottles to the recycling center, the items are washed and shredded to make fibers that are used for carpeting. The plastic flakes are sanitized completely for reuse as delicate fibers to make doormats, area rugs and large rolls of carpets. Manufacturers can dye the plastic fibers to make carpets that are only one color or that are multicolored.
Recycled Item 2: Pillow Fiberfill
If you enjoy sleeping on a pillow at night, then you should know that the fiberfill was probably a PET plastic bottle. The thin fibers from plastic bottles are perfect for making fiberfill. When you visit a fabric store, you can see what fiberfill looks like, and it is used to make bed pillows and throw cushions. This fiberfill is also useful in stuffed toys, insulated clothing or upholstered furniture.
Recycled Item 3: Artificial Turf
When you live where there is a drought, you might not have enough water to have lush green grass on your home’s lawns. Fortunately, you can install artificial turf at your home or business. Modern artificial grass is made from recycled PET bottles. The plastic fibers are dyed a gorgeous green color to make it look just like real grass.
Recycled Item 4: Clothing
Old plastic bottles are crushed and processed to make sheets of polyester fabric. These fabrics are used to make clothing items such as T-shirts, shorts or sweaters. The average sweater requires over 60 recycled plastic bottles while a T-shirt requires about 10 recycled PET bottles. If you look at the label on a garment, then it may state that it is made from recycled fabric.
Recycled Item 5: Satchels and Backpacks
When you need to buy a backpack or satchel, look for one that is made from recycled plastic bottles. It is important to have waterproof backpacks and satchels to protect your books and other items. The recycled plastic fibers from PET bottles are available in a variety of colors and textures so that manufacturers can make durable backpacks and satchels.