Things, things, things ... overflowing in the world .... You may have never thought much about things you usually get in your hands, things you get in your own hands, "when are they ever present in the world?" So, this time, why don't we think about "plastic bottles" and "recycling", which are familiar to our lives, a little? We will also introduce small articles that you might end up saying "Hm ?! Did not know!"

Bottles of mineral water, tea, fruit juice and coffee, etc. are plastic bottles. Of course, there are various containers such as cans, bottles, paper packs, etc. However, plastic bottles are by far the most abundant type and number. It's no exaggeration to say that it can not be seen anywhere from handy-size ones that can be purchased with vending machines to large-capacity one liter or more.

Well, did you know how long such a plastic bottle has been in the world? Its birth date is about 50 years ago. It is relatively recent. A company in the United States established the basic technology of plastic bottles around 1967, and in the same country, it began to be used for carbonated drinks from 1974 (* 1).

It was used in Japan around 1977 (* 2). So what was the first time plastic bottles were adopted in Japan? Was it a "carbonated drink" as in the United States, or "shoyu" unique to Japan? Or "mineral water" which seems to consume a large amount of drinks?

The answer is 2 "soy sauce". I do not know whether "because it is the seasoning that symbolizes Japan" is the reason for adoption, but it seems like Japan. And, in response to the Food Sanitation Law in Japan being revised in February 1982, about five years after that, plastic bottles have finally come to be used for soft drinks (※ 3) . The history of plastic bottle of drink which is seen every day with vending machines etc. started from here.

※1,※2,※3 PETボトルリサイクル推進協議会「PETボトルとリサイクルの歴史」より

Whether there are many benefits for our consumers, such as the sense of security that the contents are visible, and the light weight compared to bottles and cans, the production and distribution of plastic bottles has increased year by year.

となると、出てくるのが「飲み終わったあとのたくさんのペットボトルたちはどう処理するの？」という素朴な疑問。ただただ「ごみ」として捨てる、では、ごみの量がどんどん増えていくばかりです。

Therefore, the idea of "recycling" appeared. Instead of "discarding as garbage," it means "utilizing as resources." I think you all know now that the “Recycling Law” has been established for various things, not just plastic bottles.

For example, if 100 carbonated drinks using 500 ml of lightweight plastic bottles are recycled, energy consumption can be reduced by 0.57 liters of crude oil equivalent and 2.04 kg of carbon dioxide, compared to the case of incineration and landfilling as waste Yes (* 4). By recycling, we can reduce the burden on the environment in which we live.

※FourMinistry of the Environment "3R Action Visualization Tool"

Many people will know that “PET bottles are recycled into various things”. Now let's look at what exactly is recycled.

Before that, I will review "What exactly is a plastic bottle made of?" Plastic bottles are made of polyester called "polyethylene terephthalate", which is a type of plastic (* 5). This "polyethylene terephthalate" is written in English as "Poly Ethylene Terephthalate". By this initial letter "PET" ... yes, the name "pet" bottle came from here.

By the way, as mentioned above, this "polyethylene terephthalate" is "polyester". You thought, "That's the kind of textile you like clothes?" You may have seen or actually worn textiles recycled from plastic bottles, such as clothes, hats and gloves. Besides that, there are various plastic products called “original plastic bottles” around us such as stationery and supermarket shopping baskets.

In this way, there are cases where you are born into "products other than plastic bottles," but there are also plastic bottles that are, in fact, also born again. This is called "bottle to bottle".

For example, in the case of recycling "bins", the method of cleaning and reusing the empty bottles themselves is adopted, but not in the case of plastic bottles.

Various plastic bottle drinks are soldekinakaSome of the rubbish generated in the "bottle-to-bottle" is realized using a method called "mechanical recycling". “Mechanical recycling” is a method in which collected used plastic bottles are first sorted, crushed and washed, etc. to remove foreign substances sufficiently and then treated under high temperature (* 6). In this way, plastic bottles are once converted back to raw material levels and then reborn into new plastic bottles.

※ 6Japan Tech Corporation "ekinakaFirst! This time, the recycling ring from the station is a member ♪ "

Because there are many vending machines, you have the convenience of buying immediately when you want to drink, and because there are so many types, you have the pleasure of choosingekinakaVending machine. However, on the other hand, if the number is large, there is a concern that the waste in the empty container may overflow. Not only in terms of recycling, but also in stations and homes used by many people, it would be difficult if such a situation would occur.

That's why various devices are being madeacureTrash boxes attached to the vending machine of If you look closely, you will find that "various devices to make recycling easier".

At first "see through of trash box". The bottom of the trash box is shaped like a window so that you can see the dumped container. Being able to see the contents makes it easy to understand what plastic bottles, cans, bottles, etc. are good and bad, and it is easy to prevent the mixing of other containers and waste.

And "intelligible input". In this case, "where and what to throw away" is not lost. In addition, although it is possible to separate and collect two or three types of beverage containers (PET bottles, cans, bottles) in this way in a “one box”, space saving is achieved that fits snugly by the vending machine Also,acureFeatures of the trash box for vending machines. It is a limited space and there are many peopleekinakaThat's why it is a shape that has been carefully considered.

What is necessary for "plastic bottle recycling" is "sorted recovery" in any case. If you think that you have to put it into practice while thinking that you have to put it into practice, you should be able to become accustomed and quick as long as you can do it naturally.ekinakaIt is inacureMaybe the trash box for vending machines is also evolving while seeing out the psychology and behavior of such a person?

next time,acurePlease check the trash box with this point of view when you buy drinks with your vending machine. There may be a bit of fun discoveries like "Everywhere in this place!"

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