Modern life would be unthinkable without plastic. Of all types of plastic, the most widely used is polyethylene – in the form of plastic film or plastic bags. The use of plastic film as the primary packaging material for food and industrial goods is justified by its functional properties and convenience.
The most common sources of plastic film waste:● food packaging (low-density polyethylene (LDPE) waste);● industrial packaging (high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and LDPE waste, expanded polyethylene, special liners for big bags);● agricultural film waste (greenhouse cover film, fertiliser bags, etc.);● technical and industrial packaging film (stretch film, HDPE film waste);● process film waste (trimmings, substandard material).
At the same time, plastic film waste is increasing exponentially. The accumulation of plastic film waste contributes significantly to pollution and littering of the environment. Numerous landfills and specialised disposal sites are unable to cope with the disposal of this type of waste. This leads to the accumulation of polyethylene and its slow decomposition in the natural environment.

Let’s take a closer look at the most common types of film waste and how to distinguish stretch film from polyethylene, and HDPE from LDPE.
The film is therefore classified as follows:● Polyethylene (PE) is used to produce transparent or lightly coloured packaging bags, agricultural film, and packaging for industrial products. This category also includes heat-shrink film. Polyethylene is divided into high-pressure – 04, LDPE, and low-pressure – 02, HDPE;
● Polyethylene stretch film – a type of polyethylene containing adhesive components. A characteristic feature of stretch film is that it is a transparent film with a sticky inner side. Special properties of stretch film: high fluidity of the material and, consequently, reduced tensile strength. It is used for packaging various products and goods;
● Polypropylene – characterised by high transparency and sufficient rigidity. Polypropylene packaging is used for packing cereals, pasta, and occasionally bread, biscuits and chocolate (opaque wrappers with added colourants). Polypropylene is also a component of many types of film;
● Polyethylene terephthalate – a material with sealing properties, most commonly used in packaging materials for vacuum-sealing products. This type of film is characterised by its transparency and resistance to high temperatures;
● Polyvinyl chloride – used in airtight packaging and in furniture manufacturing where high elasticity is required;
● Multi-layer films are used for packaging loose food products (tea), cigarettes and medicines. This type of film is characterised by high air permeability, whilst retaining aroma and appearance;● Polyethylene terephthalate – a material with sealing properties, most commonly used in packaging for vacuum-sealing food products. This type of film is characterised by its transparency and resistance to high temperatures;
● Polyvinyl chloride – used in airtight packaging and in furniture manufacturing where high elasticity is required;
● Multi-layer films are used for packaging loose food products (tea), cigarettes and medicines. This type of film is characterised by high air permeability, whilst preserving the aroma and appearance of the product. Recycling this type of packaging is the most difficult due to the complexity of identifying and dissolving the plastics in the film. According to another approach, the collection of polyethylene film is organised on the basis of prior waste sorting.
Depending on the type of material and the degree of soiling, all film falls into one of three categories:● Production rejects. This category accounts for 1–10% of all film waste. Rejected products are sent directly from the production line for recycling as secondary raw materials;
● Homogeneous consumer waste – polyethylene film used in the home;
● Waste from landfills and rubbish tips – a group of production and household waste that has ended up in landfill.

The recycling of plastic film is a promising approach to tackling the creation and ever-increasing size of landfills and waste disposal sites. Recycling also helps to conserve the raw materials needed to produce plastics and other products.

The recycling of film waste is based on a combination of mechanical and chemical processes. The film waste recycling process consists of the following stages:1. Sorting. The film waste is sorted and rejected by hand. The sorted raw material is fed into the production line.
2. Cleaning and washing of the raw material in a special solution. This is followed by conveyor drying and transport to the next workshop.
3. The film waste is shredded to the required size, then the mass is heated, melted and mixed in the extruder chamber. The homogeneous mixture proceeds to washing, filtration and drying, and then to the agglomerators. 4. Agglomeration – sequential melting and sintering of the raw material.
5. Granulation – successive cycles of heating and cleaning.

Next, the mass, heated to 200 °C, is passed through a die head. The extruder produces thin strands, which are cooled and cut into small pieces (pellets). Two production methods are used in the processing of film waste: extrusion and compression moulding.

Used plastic films pose a global problem, as their disposal is a complex and costly process. The cost of disposing of film waste in landfills and waste disposal sites is very high due to their high volume-to-weight ratio.

Disposal by incineration leads to atmospheric pollution with toxic substances. Consequently, the most appropriate and effective approach is the recycling of polymer films. In developed countries (Europe, the USA, Japan), there is a separate industrial sector dedicated to the processing of polymer waste.
The benefits of recycling plastic film include:● reducing the negative impact on the environment;
● reducing the burden on landfill sites;
● using waste as a raw material for the production of new types of products for various purposes;
● saving resources and materials for the production of polyethylene pellets;
● recycling film reduces the environmental impact, as no toxic hydrocarbon combustion products are released.

Recycled film is an excellent raw material for the production of a wide range of products, such as:
● packaging materials;
● children’s toys for outdoor activities and play: ice skates, snow moulds, sand shovels, buckets, Easter cakes and more;
● flower pots and planters;
● recycled stretch film, food carrier bags and bin liners;
● buckets, basins, barrels, tanks and other containers for non-food products;
● gutters and downpipes, sewage pipes;
● plastic garden furniture and decorative figures;
● decking;
● electrical insulation for equipment and cable manufacturing;
● waterproofing materials for construction;
● greenhouses, greenhouse roofs;
● light filters made from polarised films.

Plastiker accepts used film directly at its premises. Film waste is accepted based on weight, overall condition and degree of contamination.In most cases, polyethylene can be handed in by the general public and commercial enterprises in both large and small quantities. Plastiker accepts plastic film in Kyiv, the Kyiv region and other parts of the country.
The following items are subject to recycling and subsequent resale:● LDPE and HDPE packaging film – packaging from beverages, electrical goods, building materials and equipment;
● Waste stretch film of various brands and grades;
● Heat-shrink and packaging film;
● Various types of agricultural film and other types of polymer waste;
● polypropylene films (packaging waste).
If you are planning to dispose of plastic film waste, please note that the recyclable material must be dry, free from impurities and foreign objects, and packed in bags or other suitable containers. Plastic film is accepted on a regular basis. Plastic film waste from businesses and commercial organisations is accepted on the basis of signed contracts.
The price for accepting film waste is set taking into account market trends, depending on the volume and quality of the secondary raw materials. The average market price per 1 kg of film waste starts at 10 UAH/kg and can reach 30 UAH/kg.For large wholesale consignments, film waste is collected using the company’s own vehicles under pre-agreed terms.