Introduction: How to Recycle HDPE Plastic (bags, Milk Jugs, Bottle Caps, ETC)
Plastic it's all around us, we cant get rid of it, so why not recycle it? In this Instructable I teach you how to recycle HDPE plastic.
Materials:
-HDPE
-Wax paper
-An oven
-Mold
-Heatproof tray
Step 1: Find HPDE Logos.
The most common place you will find the HPDE logo is on plastic bags milk jugs and bottle caps.
Step 2: Sort Your Bags.
Biggest bag on bottom smallest bag on top.
Step 3: Fold It to Your Size
Flod your bags to whatever size you like. You could also cut it.
Step 4: Preparing It.
Lay some wax paper on a heatproof tray then put put your plastic on it.
Step 5: Baking It!!!
Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit if you go any higher your plastic will decompose. You can also set it for 10 minutes.
Step 6: Molding.
After you take it out of the oven you will notice that it's soft an shrunken you can now stick it in a mold and wait for it to dry.
Step 7: Done!!! :-)
After you take it out of the mold it is ready to make stuff with. It might not be pretty but its durable! :-)
Step 8: No Mold?
Its OK, you can let it dry freeform. ;-)
10 Comments
7 years ago on Introduction
One thing you can do with melted HDPE is melt it with hot paraffin wax. Pour it into block molds and you can machine it. When you buy the stuff professionally, it's called machinable wax. It's expensive to buy, so it's worth it to make your own.
People who use CNC milling machines use it to do test runs. It's great because if an accident happens with the setup, you won't damage your cutting bits as easily.
Reply 7 years ago
Hi thanks for looking ;-) do you mean with a parrafin machine or just mix it with the wax? ;-)
7 years ago on Introduction
You have used multiple photos here from other instructables about recycling HDPE.
You should be giving them credit and referencing these instructables or asking permission before you re-use their photos.
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Recycle-HDP...
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-recycle-HDP...
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
I had no idea I took a of these pictures at home except for the last 2. :-(
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Even your cover photo?
Reply 7 years ago
Thats part of the 2!
7 years ago on Introduction
Thank you for this nice Instructable
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Your welcome. Thanks for looking. ;-)
7 years ago on Introduction
What can be done with it and how it can be utilized?
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
You could work with it with wood working tools to make anything you like. Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUR6_bQLU-E&app=desktop. ;-)