Integrated Remanufacturing/Materials Recovery Process for Optimum Recycling of Plastics

In the remanufacturing industry (for example the remanufacture of floor care products such as vacuum cleaners) the integration of cost-effective materials recovery technology would provide for the optimum recycling of plastics. Presently, reject plastic parts that cannot be re-used in remanufactured products are disposed. This project will demonstrate the commercial viability of an integrated remanufacturing, disassembly, and materials recovery process for the optimum recycling of post-consumer plastics. Phase I will investigate the feasibility of an advanced separation technology that optimizes disassembly techniques with materials separation to ensure that these reject materials can be recycled. An advanced physical separation technology developed at Argonne National Laboratory will be tested to determine its effectiveness in recovering salable plastics from the currently generated rejects