The key difference lies in the source of the plastic waste before recycling:
Recycling Type | Material Origin | Examples | Characteristics |
---|---|---|---|
Pre-Consumer (or Post-Industrial) | Surplus, trims, or defective pieces generated during the manufacturing of plastic products, before reaching the final consumer. | Injection scraps, sheet edges, out-of-spec parts. | Clean material, free of contaminants, with properties very close to virgin plastic. |
Post-Consumer | Plastics that have already been used and discarded by consumers or businesses, then collected for recycling. | Used bottles, containers, bags, discarded household items. | May contain dirt, mixed materials, or wear; requires more rigorous cleaning and sorting processes. |