How is acrylic recycled? You can read about it in this blog! Acrylic (PMMA) is a fully recyclable plastic. Through a chemical recycling process, used acrylic can be converted back into its original raw material. At Pyrasied, we have been actively collecting and recycling acrylic remnants for years. Production leftovers and used sheets are gathered and sent to a factory where they are recycled. This process transforms old or used acrylic into raw material for new sheets.
Step 1: Collecting acrylic
The first step in the process of “how is acrylic recycled?” The recycling process starts with gathering acrylic materials such as:
- Production waste
- Offcuts from sheets
- Used acrylic products
These materials are sorted and stored in containers. Once full, they are transported to a recycling facility.
Step 2: Depolymerization
Depolymerization is the next stage of recycling. Acrylic consists of long molecular chains of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). During depolymerization, heat breaks these chains into smaller molecules, converting the material back into a liquid raw material.
Step 3: Distillation and purification
After depolymerization, a distillation process follows. This step:
- Removes impurities
- Separates different substances
The goal is to recover the original monomer: methyl methacrylate (MMA). The result is R-MMA, or recycled methyl methacrylate.
Step 4: Producing new acrylic sheets
This recycled monomer can be used to produce new acrylic products. A well-known example is the brand Green Cast, made from 100% recycled acrylic sourced from both:
- Post-consumer material (used products)
- Pre-consumer material (production waste)
This creates a circular material flow, where old acrylic is reused as raw material for new sheets.
How are colours created in recycled acrylic?
After the question “how is acrylic recycled?”, the next step is how different colors can be created. During production, colour can be added to recycled acrylic sheets:
- Coloured sheets receive pigments during manufacturing
- Clear sheets are produced without color additives
This allows recycled sheets to be made in various colours and transparencies.
How can you verify that Green Cast is truly recycled?
To ensure a material comes from recycled sources, Green Cast’s manufacturer, Madreperla, is ISO-certified. This ensures that the entire material flow is carefully tracked and verified. It documents:
- Material origin
- Processing methods
- Raw materials used
Madreperla also has sufficient R-MMA to guarantee Green Cast production, eliminating the need for virgin PMMA.
Circular use of acrylic
This recycling process allows acrylic to be reused multiple times without quality loss, making PMMA an attractive material for the circular economy. By collecting and recycling leftover materials, waste is reduced, and the demand for new raw materials is minimized.
Want to learn more?
Would you like to know more about using recycled plastics in your project? Or more questions about “how is acrylic recycled?” We support you from initial advice through to implementation.
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