Injection Moulding of Recycled Plastic Materials for Hazardous Waste Management in Libya: A Review for Sustainable Manufacturing
Keywords:
Injection moulding, plastic recycling, sustainable manufacturing, mechanical properties, environmental protection.Abstract
Injection moulding is one of the most versatile and important processes for the mass production of complex plastic parts. It is widely regarded as the primary method for producing plastic components with diverse shapes and applications. This study illustrates the recycling of plastic materials, demonstrating that recycled plastics can be reprocessed using an injection moulding machine. The main objective of this study is to review and present research on the number of times various plastic materials can be recycled through the injection moulding process while maintaining acceptable quality and reliability. This is achieved by adding a controlled percentage of fresh (raw) material to the recycled plastic. The study focuses on determining the most effective processing conditions at each stage of the recycling process to optimize material performance. Furthermore, this review seeks to identify optimal processing conditions at various stages of the recycling process in order to enhance manufacturing efficiency, reduce plastic waste, and support the principles of environmental protection and sustainable manufacturing. This study is particularly important for Libya, where rapid urbanization and weak waste management systems have worsened plastic waste challenges. The lack of recycling systems and reliance on landfilling and open burning highlight the need for sustainable solutions. The findings show that improved recycling processes can reduce hazardous waste, enhance resource efficiency, and support environmentally responsible manufacturing.
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