|
Recycling And The Environment
There is increasing pressure around the world to adopt environmentally responsible products and practices. Polymer banknotes eliminate many of the pollution problems associated with the disposal of paper banknotes, such as landfill and incineration.
The use and recycling of polymer notes is a simple way by which governments can address the issue of environmental protection. An added benefit of recycling banknotes is that it can be used as a means of creating public awareness on recycling used products.
Added Benefits
Polymer banknotes in circulation in Australia last around five times longer than paper notes. As a result of this increased functionality, new note requirements are significantly reduced. In terms of the environment, this translates into the consumption of only 20% of the resources required for paper notes.
The use of Guardian®; polymer for banknotes provides an opportunity for issuing authorities and Governments to lead the community by example in the quest for more responsible use of resources and reduction and management of waste. Polymer notes can help to create public awareness of environmental issues.
Paper Notes
Most paper banknotes are made from cotton. The majority of cotton fibres used in notes are from virgin cotton. Cotton farming requires high levels of fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides and water. There is much leachate, which contributes to waterway contamination. While cotton is said to be a renewable resource, it is not considered to be an environmentally friendly crop.
Outsorted paper notes are generally either burned or buried. This is a waste of resources as burning produces air-borne pollutants of incomplete combustion. Even complete combustion produces carbon dioxide, which is a dangerous greenhouse gas.
The burial of notes requires secure landfill sites, which are becoming scarce. And rotting banknote paper results in the production of methane, another dangerous greenhouse gas.
Polymer Notes
The base material of polymer notes, polypropylene, is from a non-renewable resource but, due to its recyclability, it has more than one life. Therefore, the manufacture of banknotes on polypropylene does not represent a final consumption of this resource.
At the end of their life, polymer notes can be granulated or shredded in a similar way to paper notes. Then they can be provided or sold to a plastics recycling organisation for extrusion under high temperatures and pressure to form pellets. From these, a large range of useful plastic products can be made. These include garden carts, compost bins, plumbing fittings, household products and industrial products.
The Process
- Granulation
Unfit polymer banknotes may be granulated on the same equipment used to granulate unfit paper banknotes.
- Pelletising
Once the banknotes have been granulated, they are generally considered a non-secure item. The granulated polymer banknotes are often provided to polymer recycling companies who process the granulated notes into polypropylene pellets.
- Recycled Product
The pellets are used to manufacture a range of polymer-based products, such as those shown below.
|
