Recycling "best environmental option" for HDPE bottles
Material recycling of high density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles consumes less energy than landfill and incineration with or without energy recovery, according to a study by plastics producer Dow Europe. Bottles which are not recycled should be incinerated with energy recovery to realise the full energy savings, it says. However, the recycling option increases costs by up to 19%, and markets for the recycled polymer - currently limited - have to be found.