System and method for recycling and recapture of bio-based plastics
View Patent ↗A method for reclaiming bio-based plastic material is disclosed, including providing a bio-based plastic article, the article including an identifier, determining article content information from or via the identifier, and recycling the article based on article content information. Further, a system for reclaiming bio-based plastic material is disclosed, including an apparatus or device configured to obtain or determine a bio-based material content associated with a plastic article, and an apparatus or device configured to sort the plastic article based upon the bio-based material content of the plastic article. A bio-based plastic article comprising recycled bio-based material is also disclosed.
1. A method for reclaiming bio-based plastic material, comprising:
receiving a plastic container comprised of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the container including an identifier;
determining container content information from or via the identifier;
using or referring to the identifier to sort the PET container from other PET containers based on whether the PET container being sorted includes bio-based plastic material; and
segregating PET containers including bio-based plastic material from PET containers that do not include bio-based plastic material.
2. The method of claim 1 , including recycling the segregated PET containers that include bio-based plastic material.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier is included with, part of, or incorporated into a material forming the container or a formed portion of a plastic container.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises one or more additives.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more additives can distinguish bio-based containers from other forms of containers.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more additives can distinguish bio-based containers from petrol-based containers.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier is not generally visible/perceptible to a human eye.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises a colorant or dye.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises an ultra-violet dye.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier includes a chemical tracer.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the chemical tracer is a compound.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the chemical tracer is an organic material.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the chemical tracer is on the order of single parts per billion or less.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bio-based plastic material comprises a PCR material.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bio-based plastic material comprises a custom blend of PCR material.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the custom blend includes both bio-based and petrol-based materials.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the custom blend of both bio-based and petrol-based materials is at ratios that are specified or selected.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein PET containers are separately segregated and recycled.