A plastic film washing line turns baled, contaminated PP and PE film into clean flake through eight modules in a fixed order — metered belt feed, pre-cutting to 60–80 mm, secondary crushing below 40 mm, a sink-float tank that drops everything denser than water, a sealed screw transfer, a high-speed friction washer, a screw press that brings moisture down to 5–8%, and a buffer silo that feeds the pelletizer. No polymer melts while contamination is still present. The order, not the individual machines, is what sets final flake quality.

Film is the most awkward feedstock in mechanical recycling. It is thin, it tangles, it traps water in every fold, and it arrives carrying far more non-plastic mass than a bottle bale ever does. The US EPA put the overall plastics recycling rate at 8.7% in 2018, with plastic containers and packaging at 13.6% — figures that show how much film still escapes recovery, and why line design matters commercially. This guide walks the flow module by module, then explains where PP and PE demand different settings on the same equipment.

Every year, millions of tons of PE film — shopping bags, stretch wrap, agricultural mulch and packaging film — end up in landfills or oceans. Meanwhile, recyclers equipped with a reliable pe film recycling machine are turning this troublesome waste stream into steady income. This guide breaks down the real costs, profit margins and setup tips you need before launching your own PE film recycling project.

Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most widely used plastics in the world. It is commonly found in flexible packaging, agricultural films, industrial wrapping, and everyday plastic bags. This naturally raises an important question for manufacturers, recyclers, and investors: can polyethylene be recycled efficiently on an industrial scale? The answer is yes. Pure, properly sorted waste PE film can be recycled through mechanical processes. However, reprocessing waste PE film is not as straightforward as recycling many rigid plastics. Its physical properties and contamination levels create several practical challenges, which help explain why the global recycling rate for flexible PE waste remains relatively low. For modern recycling plants, a properly designed plastic film washing line a reliable and pe film recycling machine are therefore important parts of an efficient recycling system.

PP raffia is extruded polypropylene flat yarn widely used for woven jumbo bags and packaging fabrics. Polypropylene raffia recycling and PP Woven Recycling turn post‑consumer bulk bags into reusable pellets. Jumbo bags recycling gains momentum amid EU plastic regulations, creating a booming circular‑economy market with growing demand for clean, high‑quality recycled PP pellets.

This report focuses on the fiber recycling business of post-consumer polypropylene bulk bags (FIBC/raffia). This business generates positive cash flow, has a payback period of approximately two years, and demonstrates strong profitability. Under conservative assumptions, the unit gross profit is approximately $78-92/ton. A 500 kg/hour production line has an EBITDA of approximately $78-92/ton, resulting in an annual EBITDA of approximately $180,000. The net payback period is 1.6-1.9 years.

Learn the key differences between raffia grade PP and ordinary PP in pp raffia recycling. Master professional processing parameters for PP raffia washing line and PP raffia pelletizing line to avoid production faults and improve recycled pellet quality and profit.

Soft plastic waste including PE film, woven bags, plastic yarns and flexible fabric scraps is among the most common recyclable materials across the plastic industry. Converting these waste materials into reusable plastic pellets relies heavily on a well-matched extrusion pelletizing machine. For recycling plant operators, picking a proper extrusion pelletizing machine directly impacts production output, final pellet quality and overall operational costs.

Across the global plastic recycling pelletizing machine, A European brand has long stood as the undisputed market leader. Its recycling lines are engineered with proven core technologies and reliable operational performance, paired with rigorous melt purification capabilities. As the industry benchmark for high-end plastic recycling solutions, these systems are widely deployed for processing waste films, plastic flakes, synthetic fibers and recycled plastic material . Favored by mid-to-high tier recyclers worldwide, has become the gold standard for premium recycling and pelletizing line.

In recent years, countries around the world have been strengthening plastic pollution control and promoting policies for plastic recycling. These efforts aim to reduce environmental harm and support sustainable development. Here is an overview of key policies driving the global shift toward a circular economy for plastics.

In modern industrial production, the pelletizing production line is a vital process in plastic recycling and manufacturing. Its operational efficiency and stability directly impact final output, cost-effectiveness, and overall plant safety. A key component ensuring this seamless operation is the de-dust unit. At Kitech Machinery, we understand that superior plastic pellet quality begins with a pristine production environment, which is precisely what our engineered solutions deliver.

In the long history of human civilization, few materials have so profoundly reshaped our way of life while also prompting deep ecological reflection as plastic. Born in 19th-century laboratories, this synthetic material has, in just 150 years, evolved from "Celluloid"—a substitute for ivory—into everyday items that permeate every corner of modern life, ultimately becoming a serious challenge to our planet's ecosystems. So, who first invented plastic? Let’s trace the timeline and meet the key figures essential to plastic's development.

Virgin plastic is made from basic materials like oil and gas. It goes through a full chemical process to become new, pure plastic that has never been used before. Recycled plastic comes from used plastic items that are collected, processed, and made into plastic again. Because it has been used and reprocessed, it often differs from virgin plastic in several ways. Here’s how you can tell them apart.

In recent decades, the widespread use of plastic products has led to the pervasive presence of microplastics in our environment. A growing body of research confirms that these tiny plastic particles can accumulate within the human body, having been detected in blood, lungs, kidneys, liver, the reproductive system, and even the brain.

Plastic bags are a ubiquitous part of modern life, but their disposal presents a significant environmental challenge. The two most common endpoints for plastic waste are landfilling and burning plastic. When evaluating which method has a smaller immediate environmental footprint, the scale tips toward landfilling, though neither is a perfect or sustainable solution.

The global push for sustainable plastic recycling is driving significant regulatory updates worldwide. Recently, China, South Korea, and Japan have each announced important new rules for recycled plastics, set to take effect in early 2026. These changes will reshape the industry, requiring businesses to adapt their supply chains and upgrade technologies.

China, as the world's largest producer of PET, faces significant hurdles in establishing a robust and high-value plastic recycling ecosystem. While all waste plastic is theoretically recyclable, the reality is a complex web of challenges that ultimately limit the availability of high-grade recycled materials, such as food or cosmetic-grade pellets, within the domestic market. This stands in contrast to developed nations, which successfully produce clear, pure, high-end recycled flakes. The core issues span the entire chain from households to industry and policy.

In 2024, global recycled plastic pellet production was approximately 34,613 thousand tons, with an average global market price of approximately $896 per ton. Its applications span packaging, automotive parts, building materials, and consumer goods, driven by both regulatory pressures for the circular economy and increasing corporate commitments to reducing their carbon footprint.

According to the "Plastics Industry Overview 2025" report released by Plastics Europe, global plastics production reached 430.9 million tons in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 4.1%, and an increase of over 16% compared to 2018. Despite regional differences in growth distribution, demand for plastics remains strong, particularly concentrated in the packaging, consumer goods, and automotive industries. However, the global production landscape is undergoing profound changes, with the center of production shifting from Europe and the Americas to Asia, reshaping the global industry landscape.

To address this issue, the Canadian government has introduced a comprehensive ban on six categories of single-use plastics. The long-term goal is to completely stop the production, import, and export of these items by the end of 2025. By 2030, Canada aims to ensure that no plastic waste ends up in landfills, beaches, rivers, wetlands, or forests.

Plastic has only existed for a little over a century, yet it has permeated every aspect of our lives, from clothing and food to housing and transportation. The plastic waste we discard daily seems to "disappear" once it's hauled away by garbage trucks. But in reality, plastic doesn't truly disappear. It may end up in landfills, incinerate, or enter the ocean, or even decompose into smaller particles, continuing to exist in the environment. Globally, over 300 million tons of plastic are produced annually, with approximately 8 million tons ultimately ending up in the ocean. The "disappearance" of this plastic waste is actually a long process of "lurking."

Vanuatu, hailed as "the happiest country in the world" and also "the poorest country in the world," has a remarkable unique environmental philosophy. Here, people have abandoned the use of plastic and returned to a more natural lifestyle.



This small island nation in the western South Pacific, Vanuatu, may seem like a distant travel destination to you. However, this seemingly underdeveloped country became the country with the strictest plastic ban in the world in 2018 at an astonishing pace. Its sparse population density, with only one person living per 43,000 square meters, has fostered a pioneering environmental philosophy in this vast and sparsely populated environment.

Takeout bags, often discarded in China, have become a "hard currency" in Africa, more sought after than gold. Porridge bags from Manling Porridge Shop, milk tea bags from Bawang Chaji, and Melatonin gift bags—packaging considered "disposable trash" in China—have become fashionable items coveted on the streets of Africa. "Healthy" porridge bags in one hand, "influencer" tea bags in the other. Locals find Chinese characters on these bags more eye-catching than the monogram patterns of luxury brands.

In the modern plastics industry, pelletizing is a core link, transforming diverse plastic raw materials into plastic pellets with uniform specifications and stable performance. Plastic pelletizing is more than a simple process of melting and cutting; it is a systematic process integrating pretreatment, precision plasticization, efficient filtration, and intelligent molding. Every detail of the process directly impacts the gloss, uniformity, mechanical properties, and subsequent processing performance of the final pellets.

Plastics play an indispensable role in daily life and production, and their widespread use undoubtedly brings great convenience to our lives. However, the resulting problem of plastic waste has become increasingly prominent, and the resulting "white pollution" has become a major challenge in environmental governance. To more effectively address this issue, we need to have a deeper understanding of plastic classification. This understanding will not only help us use plastic products more rationally, but also promote plastic sorting and recycling, thereby contributing to the reduction and effective control of environmental pollution.

Did you know?

In the heart of the Pacific Ocean, far from land,

there floats a "new continent" four times the size of Japan.

This isn't a product of geological movement, but rather a vast garbage island composed of discarded plastic bottles, fishing nets, plastic bags, and countless other plastic fragments.



So, how did this human-free "island" come to be? And how does it resonate with our daily lives?

In December 2024, the European Council officially adopted the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which will take effect in February 2025. It sets stricter and more systematic requirements for the recycling, utilization, and disposal of packaging waste.

According to recent research, the average person globally consumes approximately the weight of a credit card each week. Even more alarmingly, scientists have found traces of microplastics in human blood clots, brain tissue, and even the placenta.

PET plastic bottles are high-value-added waste, with simple recycling methods and relatively mature technology. A comprehensive industry chain has been established both domestically and internationally. Compared to other plastics, PET bottles have a high recycling rate. EU member states, through the establishment of a deposit system, have achieved a recycling rate of around 90%. In 2017, the EU's overall recycling rate reached 58.2%, Japan's was over 92%, and China's PET beverage bottle recycling rate reached over 94%.

Recent research confirms that India has become the world's leading plastic polluter. According to a June 23rd report in India Today, India emits 9.3 million tons of plastic waste annually, accounting for 20% of the world's total plastic waste—equivalent to one in every five pieces of plastic waste worldwide.

During the plastic pelletizing process, various problems often arise, directly impacting pellet quality and the stability of the subsequent extrusion process. The following analyzes common problems and proposes corresponding solutions to quickly identify the issues and optimize production.

A screen changer is a manual or automatic switching device consisting of one or more filters. It is used to remove foreign particles and impurities as the plasticized material flows through the filters. It can be used to filter any type of polymer, rubber, or ceramic melt. A screen changer can be installed on any existing extruder, melt pump, reactor, or other extrusion line.

Bangladesh's plastic industry has an average annual growth rate of over 18%. With a population of 165 million and cheap labor, it faces a high dependence on imports of raw materials and machinery - China accounts for 65.9% of its raw material supply. This emerging Asian market is opening up a blue ocean of value for global investors.

In the PET recycling process, it is very important to choose the right type of extruder when granulating PET bottle flakes for re-production. Single screw extruder and twin screw extruder are two common granulation equipment, each with its own advantages and disadvantages, suitable for different application scenarios. The following is a detailed analysis of the two extruders and how to choose the right equipment to produce high-quality PET pellets.

In the PET bottle recycling and washing production process, in order to ensure the quality of the final PET bottle flakes (recycled materials), the following non-standard PET bottle types must be manually pre-sorted:

In the PET bottle recycling and washing line, the rinsing tank (Floating Washer) is a key equipment used to separate light impurities (such as labels, bottle caps, foreign matter, etc.) in PET bottles. It can be used in conjunction with the entire washing line or alone. It mainly uses the density difference of different materials to complete the separation of light impurities, ensuring that the PET bottle flakes maintain high purity in subsequent production processes.

During the PET bottle cleaning and recycling process, the alkali concentration, temperature control and amount of detergent added inside the PET bottle flake hot cleaning machine need to be precisely managed to ensure the cleaning effect while avoiding damage to the PET bottle flakes.

In the PET bottle recycling and washing line process, although many links have been automated, there are still some key links that need to be manually operated or assisted by humans to ensure the quality and production efficiency of the final PET bottle flakes. The following are the main tasks that must be completed by manual operation. For example: feeding (unpacking and feeding), sorting PET bottles (sorting colors and materials) and collecting PET flakes.

In the PET bottle washing and recycling production line, the crusher blade is a key component of the crushing equipment. Its service life and replacement time are crucial to the equipment performance and production efficiency. The following is some professional knowledge about the blade material, sharpening frequency and replacement cycle.

01 Global cities are seriously polluted by plastic

A recent environmental science paper published in the internationally renowned academic journal Nature stated that researchers have established and published a comprehensive list of large plastic pollution at the city scale, revealing the distribution of plastic waste pollution hotspots in more than 50,000 cities around the world.



Based on the results of the study, it is estimated that 52.1 million metric tons of large plastics are discharged into the environment each year, about 57% are burned in the open air, and 43% are unburned fragments. Discarded garbage is the largest source of plastic pollution in the global north, while uncollected waste is the main source in the global south.



So, where do these discarded plastic bottles go? Unfortunately, although up to 1 million plastic bottles are sold every minute worldwide, less than half of the discarded plastic bottles can be effectively recycled and used. Among them, only 7% of plastic bottles are recycled and made into new bottles. Most plastic bottles are either mixed with garbage and landfilled or flow into the ocean, causing serious environmental problems.

Thickening equipment can thicken recycled plastic PET chips, and is usually used in PET washing and granulation production lines, which can realize a closed-loop industrial chain model from recycling, washing, granulation, thickening, and purification.

As the world intensifies efforts to combat plastic waste and transition toward sustainability, China has emerged as a pivotal player in advancing the plastic circular economy. According to *Plastics - the Fast Facts 2023* published by Plastics Europe, global plastic production reached 400 million tons in 2022, with fossil-based plastics still dominating at 90.6%. However, a promising shift is underway: recycled plastics now account for 8.9% of global output, signaling accelerating momentum for circularity. Notably, China contributes 24% of the world' s post-consumer recycled plastics production, solidifying its leadership in this transformative sector.

Jiangsu Kitech Machinery: Pioneering Closed-Loop Solutions
At the forefront of this revolution is Jiangsu Kitech Machinery Co., Ltd., a technology leader specializing in integrated plastic recycling systems. The company’s R&D-driven approach has yielded cutting-edge solutions, including:

Plastic pelletizing systems for high-quality recycled pellets production
Automated washing and recycling lines to wash plastic waste
Self-cleaning laser filter enhancing extrusion efficiency
Shredders, crushers, dewatering, and drying equipment for seamless preprocessing

In PET bottle recycling systems, optimized label separation constitutes a fundamental prerequisite for efficient downstream processing. As critical preprocessing units, delabeling machines directly influence material purity levels by effectively removing diverse label substrates. This technical analysis examines contemporary delabeling methodologies, their operational parameters, and strategic implementation considerations for industrial recycling operations.

Lost Value in Discarded Plastic ResourcesGlobal ecosystems from polar regions to marine environments bear witness to humanity's plastic mismanagementment crisis. Studies reveal 84% of post-consumer plastics meet their end in landfills or incinerators - a permanent loss of valuable hydrocarbon resources. With merely 16% currently entering recycling streams and persistent ocean leakage from inadequate waste systems, urgent industry transformation becomes imperative.

PET bottles are divided into natural color bottles, green bottles, blue bottles and other colors. The percentage of demand for PET bottles depends on the specific use. Generally, the higher the PET content, the better the price. Therefore, plastic recycling and packaging stations need to screen the color and material separately. Domestic sorting machines are cheap. The efficiency of sorting PET bottles by sorting machines is about 85-95%. If the sorting effect is controlled better by manual sorting, it is only used for small-volume equipment due to high labor costs.

1. In 2024, the global total plastic production will be 413.8 million tons, and China's total plastic production will account for 33.3%
In 2024, the global total plastic production will be 413.8 million tons, of which mechanically recycled post-consumer plastic production will account for about 8.7%, reaching 36.5 million tons; chemical recycling will account for only 0.1%. Bio-based and bio-derived plastics account for 0.7%, reaching 3 million tons.

1. People pay more and more attention to the treatment of waste plastics

Plastics are considered one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, which greatly facilitates people's production and life. However, a large amount of waste plastics are piled up in landfills or discarded into the environment, posing a serious threat to the natural ecosystem. Traditional treatment methods cannot change the status quo of resource waste and environmental pollution. Therefore, exploring environmentally friendly and economical ways to recycle plastic waste and realizing the transformation of plastic consumption from a disposable economy to a circular carbon economy have become hot spots and problems in the field of plastic recycling.

1. The output of plastic products is growing rapidly, and the global market demand for recycled plastics has great potential

Plastics are one of the most important materials in the modern chemical industry and are widely used in all areas of life. Plastic manufacturing is energy-intensive and emission-intensive, and greenhouse gases are emitted at every stage of its life cycle. At the same time, the recycling rate of plastics is low, which pollutes the environment.

In recent years, plastic pollution has become a major global concern. A recent study has found that plastic not only exacerbates climate change, ocean acidification, and biodiversity loss, but also has a comprehensive impact on the overall environment of the Earth. This forces us to re-examine the threat of plastic to humans and nature.

Plastic pellets are widely used as raw materials for manufacturing plastic products. The transportation of plastic pellets in the ocean is usually carried out by freight containers in tons. The leakage of plastic pellets will undoubtedly harm marine life and affect fishing, aquaculture, and tourism activities. The most recent major accident occurred on the coast of Galicia, Spain, where millions of plastic particles accidentally leaked from the ship and were later washed ashore.

Recently, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced that the GLoLitter Partnership (GLP) program has received an extension from the main sponsor, the Norwegian Development Agency (Norad). The new end date for the GLP program is December 2025.