Turning Bottles Into New Things

Infographic showing bottles being sorted, shredded, melted, and turned into new products

Step one: clean and sort

Bottles need to be in the right group before they can be recycled well. Washing and sorting help remove dirt and make the material easier to use again.

Step two: chop and melt

Machines cut the bottles into tiny pieces. Then those pieces are heated until they soften and become ready to be shaped into something new.

Step three: make new products

Recycled bottle plastic can become more bottles, clothing fibres, playground equipment, bins, and other useful items. That means less waste and more smart reuse.

Classroom challenge

Choose one product in the picture and explain how it helps the bottle start a new life.
Discuss why clean recycling is better than dirty recycling.
Think of one item at school that might contain recycled plastic.

Quick Quiz

1. What should happen to bottles before they are melted?

Answer: They should be sorted and cleaned.

2. What do machines do to bottles before the plastic is melted?

Answer: They chop them into tiny pieces or flakes.

3. Name one new product recycled bottles can become.

Answer: New bottles, clothes, bins, toys, or playground equipment.