Nylon took over the whole fashion industry in the last few decades. This synthetic fabric derived from petroleum has revolutionized the world’s textile industry because of its durability and cheap price features. Nylon is the most widely used fabric in our apparel. Nowadays, nylon is being used in manufacturing many other products.
Nylon is a plastic means it is non-biodegradable and can cause numerous environmental issues. Simply you can’t decompose it, so the best way to utilize the waste plastic is to recycle them. Is nylon plastic recyclable? Let’s give you a detailed answer to this question. Make it till the end to gain more knowledge.
Contents
Can You Recycle Nylon?
Nylon is a non-biodegradable plastic that takes 30 to years to decompose, but it doesn’t mean microorganisms will eat it up in this period. Actually, it breaks into small pieces in these 40 years but remains in the ground contributing to the pollution. So the best way to get rid of these plastics is by recycling them to use again.
Yes, nylon can be recycled at specific centers where it is recycled with other disposed plastic products. It’s even said that recycled nylon is better than the original one and has fewer environmental hazards.
Is Original Nylon Eco Friendly?
Products manufactured from natural materials like cotton, maize, animals, and plants are eco-friendly because they decompose rapidly. But synthetic fibers like nylon are manufactured in laboratories by using different chemicals. Products made from them do not decompose entirely and keep on contributing to the pollution after decomposing. Even the manufacturing process of nylon is hazardous as it depletes the ozone layer and releases other chemicals.
Is Recycled Nylon Eco Friendly?
Though recycled nylon is manufactured through disposed of nylon, that has a lot of negative impacts. But recycled ones are much more eco-friendly because they don’t involve using different chemicals and release contaminated water and gasses. One of the biggest advantages of using recycled nylon is that it helps get rid of waste. There are different types of recycled nylon having distinctive properties and impacts on this mighty planet.
Characteristics Of Nylon
Different characteristics of this synthetic fabric include;
- Nylon is strong, elastic, and lightweight fabric making it preferable.
- It’s easy to wash because it dries quickly and remains in shape after washing.
- It dries much more quickly when it gets wet.
- Nylon clothes have a look like silk which enhances their quality.
- It is highly heat, UV, and chemical resistant, making it last longer in its original condition.
A few negative characteristics of nylon are;
- Nylon can melt quickly when exposed to flame.
- It requires a lot of energy to manufacture.
- Plenty of water is required in the manufacturing process and releases contaminated water after completion.
- Most importantly, its non-biodegradable plastic.
Health Hazards Of Nylon
Nylon clothes can cause lots of health issues as they are a type of plastic that requires several chemicals in the manufacturing process. Nylon sheds microplastic that can enter your body after each wash causing numerous problems.
They tend to absorb moisture by trapping water molecules and sweat close to your body. This increases the risk of getting fungal infections and other bacterial diseases related to the skin.
Acids and dyes used in it can disturb your immune system, cause skin diseases if you have sensitive skin, and cancer. Another irritant commonly found in nylon is known as formaldehyde. It causes eye problems and skin irritation when it contacts your body.
Read More About: How To Shrink Nylon?
In Which Form Nylon Can Be Recycled?
Is Recycled Nylon Biodegradable?
No, recycled nylon is not biodegradable because it’s still a form of plastic. It is obtained from the original one, which was discarded recently. And the recycling process does not alter its form but can lower its negative impacts.
Is Recycled Nylon Expensive?
Recycling nylon is a bit of a complex and expensive process as a few companies worldwide are doing this job. It’s costly to buy recycled nylon because it takes lots of time to recover into its original condition by giving it the same properties as virgin nylon has, like breathable, quick-drying, UV resistant, etc.
Why Do We Prefer Recycled Nylon?
The nylon recycling process is safe and helps get rid of waste material. Instead of dumping it into oceans, we can recycle it. Recently lots of research has been done on recycled nylon. The researchers found that it requires half of the energy in manufacturing and emits less than 50 percent carbon dioxide and other harmful gasses like nitrous oxide. If we keep recycling the waste nylon instead of manufacturing new, it can significantly lower the number of pollutants, mainly gasses, in the atmosphere.
Different Ways To Dispose Nylon
It’s better to recycle nylon, but it can be used to donate or dispose of in numerous ways. Some of these methods could exchange money; you can simply give it to different companies and get cash in return which could bring something back to you.
Donate Nylon Products
If you want to dispose of some nylon products because they are not more useful for you, instead of throwing them in the trash can, why can’t you give them to someone else who needs them? There are numerous people in miserable conditions, so provide these products to them. If you can’t find those people, simply donate them to a charity foundation.
Exchange Them
If you want to get rid of used clothes, then swap them. Swap different nylon clothes with your friends and family; this will help you change your style and wardrobe and get rid of nylon.
Thrift Them
Do you want to make some money from your old nylon products? Then thrift them and get some money in exchange. There are several thrift stores out there.
Made DIY
Nylon products can be used again by transforming them into something else. You can do it at your home, like if you have nylon carpet, then make tea coasters or other beautiful designs that you can hang on the wall. There are multiple creative ideas to make different items from used nylon products.
Conclusion
Yes, nylon plastic is recyclable, but a few firms recycle them because recycling nylon is a bit of an expensive process. But it is more reliable, having fewer impacts on the environment.
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