How To Recycle HDPE Plastic The Easy Way

Turning old milk jugs and bottle caps into useable stock for making. In this short video I process a 2 milk bottles and about half a dozen bottle tops into a 1 1/2" x 2" x 5" turning block.

You just as easily press this into sheet material for use in box inlays or scroll saw art. The possibilities are endless. The total processing time was under an hour from bottle to blank! Less than waiting for a glue up.

The result is a stunningly colorful blank!

Please like and share!

[mandygreen]

I use to work in a plastic factory, and we went by those numbers on the bottom. Coke bottles with a one was grinded down into flakes then melted to make fiber to mimic cotton and it is used for some clothing but mostly carpets. We had to sort the plastics on a sort line and I could tell what number on the bottom just by looking at the plastic and no need to look at the numbers. Number 2 is HDPE, number 3 PVC 4 is LDPE, which is the opposite of 2. 5 is PP which stands for polypropylene. 6 is PS, is what polystyrofoam. 7 is OTHER. Which is a mix. Anyways we sorted this just by looking at the plastic. The number 2and 5 is a floatable while 1 sinks so they had a machine that would spin the flakes in water tank called a slurry tank and separate the flakes and get the number 2, 5 in a collection box after it goes in the spin dryers. All they wanted was number 1. 2, 5 gets put in a box and they sent it off and usually is what plastic toys are made of. The garbage plastic 3, 4, 6, 7 we had to throw them away in a hopper. PVC, and 4 sink with the number 1 and can cause trouble with the 1. PVC melts at a lower temp than number 1 and so it's harmful to breathe it and makes hard ends in the fibers to make carpet. Also will mess up the machines. I forgot to say number 1 is PETE. Also number 1 is sorted by color and sprite and 7up bottles are green and it's used for fake grass Astro turf. Bottle caps are number 2, 5 also. Lot to do when sorting these by hand and ground up by machines. You have to be very fast too. I also worked in quality control where I had to test the plastic make sure it had a low number in PVC. You bake a sample and PVC turns black pick em out weigh it and calculated it and if it's over 250 parts per million it's quality is bad . I haven't worked there in years and can't believe I still remember all that. I thought you would like to know since you are doing a plastic project!! 😊

[SillyConeBaby]

Eeek, not worried the table saw... But I AM freaking out about your wife's food-cooking appliances being used for melting plastic :-O

[gearhed]

i would suggest folding the plastic over itself and rolling it back out several times in both directions while hot. it pulls the chunks into strands, creating more of a marble texture, as well as strengthening the material. polyethylene never truly melts, it softens, so rolling, folding, kneading, etc is needed to ensure all of the material has become bonded. it also ensures that there will be no air bubbles in the finished material

[HyperactiveNeuron]

Exactly the info I was looking for. Thanks a lot. I think I need to go to Goodwill and buy a cheap blender and toaster over. This plastic is everywhere and it's so useful for making things. I'm using those beer 6-pack carriers to make washers and some slides. They're made out of recycled HDPE.

[Dutchcrafters]

We love this how-to! That's essentially all it takes to make poly lumber and poly furniture! Just add dye, form it into boards, and build with it.

[thomashanson]

That is a Vitamix blender, I hope you remember what you paid for it because in Norway you can use one as a down payment for a motorcycle.   I finally refound your channel and subscribed to it this time.  I have equally bad habits as you.  1 thumb up.

[scooters_scooter]

Hey just an idea. For processing the thin plastic try a cheap paper shredder. I have seen soda cans, nickels and many other things destroyed by a cheap shredder. Might save some time.

[MakeSomething]

Funny thing. I was making my smoothie this morning and was wondering how I could use the Vitamix in the shop. It's got to be the most powerful machine in the house.

[pocket]

Awesome. I loved the time-lapse melt! I've dabbled with this stuff, too. Be careful when turning- it's tough in a way that's hard to believe. Toaster oven was a great idea ;) 

[komodobadger]

The blender is weirdly satisfying to watch

[corso]

I think it's great that you're blending the material as opposed to just leaving it in strips keep up the good work

[semolinasemolina]

Thank you so much, it's so lovely that you've done something simple, useful and practical with plastic. I've been looking for some how to turn those tiny bits of plastic you get in ring pulls and label tags and all the tiny bits that birds eat etc, into a brick!!!! You are so clever and productive. When I was at uni I got as far as cutting water bottles into strips and seeing what happened to them in the oven. (They went bubbly). Can't wait to build a brick mould, I'm starting a pot for the bits today! Xxxx

[johnladuke]

Well you earn a like. I've watched a bunch of people recycling HDPE like this, but you're the first one that I haven't had to yell at my screen, "JUST USE A BLENDER TO CUT IT UP!!!" Thank you for your basic common sense.

[WorkshopAddict]

I loved this video.  Great work.  I'm going to have to try that.  I'm sure it would turn very easily.

Subscribed.

[melissabeckham]

You're a brilliant non-evil genius. I was grooving on textile recycling and found this video!

[SteveFrenchWoodNStuff]

Great minds think alike. I actually did this exact same thing about 18 years ago. I melted mine on a grill with assistance from a propane torch. I melted mine in a soda can with the top cut off. I used my block of plastic (which, with all the colors, turned out to look a LOT like pretty sausage when cut open) to make some parts for a pachinko machine I was building from scratch. The whole melting and using process worked out VERY WELL. So I KNOW you'll have great success with the block you made.

[MrHaroldOwen]

Very interesting, and looking forward to the use video Peter. Will be trying this as I have been collecting detergent bottles and the like for future use for some time. Saw a video of women forming jewelry beads from the melted plastic heated in a wok over a campfire once, so I know it can be done. I have access to a full size double oven that I use to kiln dry wood, which could make this a production capable project.

Sharing what little I know:
I worked at a PVC pipe plant for 2 months (and was proud of myself for lasting that long...) where we also made rolls of HDPE pipe. The base pellets were white, like the milk bottles, we mixed in black color pellets in a 6 ft. deep pallet size box. The pipe was an off black color in the end, so constant mixing of the heated pellets will blend the color.

The process had 3 steps, Preheat, pressurized heat where the pipe was formed, and a long cool-down.  I think the longer cool down process coupled with pressure kept the air pockets away. Maybe a metal form to retained heat longer, and a hydraulic jack bench press could produce a solid block without voids.

HDPE can be recycled multiple times, we reground all of our culls and mixed them in with new pellets. Great for guys that like to use very once of something... not pointing any fingers... just sayin'.... :)

[admiralcheesecake]

The block of plastic looks like the most incredible soap you'd ever use. I think I might use this video as inspiration for soap making

[TheWadetube]

That looks like a deliscious christmas candy treat.

[Ashkorya]

I really love your video, and your creation. What I like the most is that nothing is ever lost, be it chips of wood, plastic, or resin, you will always find them useful for future creation, and that's it, which is great.
One mire time, Bravo