Post-Consumer Plastic Fuel Tank Recycling

Coextruded plastic fuel tanks containing 27% post consumer recycled material were produced. The recycled material was high-density polyethylene recovered from end-of-life vehicle fuel tanks. Recovered fuel tanks contain residual fuel inside the tank and absorbed in the tank wall. The mechanical recycling process employed was effective at removing the residual fuel. Mechanical properties of the regenerated material are similar to mechanical properties of virgin High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). The regenerated material was successfully molded into plastic fuel tanks with minor adjustments to the process.