{"id":7705,"date":"2025-12-21T06:10:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T05:10:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/recyclemachine.net\/?p=7705"},"modified":"2026-05-19T14:16:02","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T06:16:02","slug":"como-reciclar-la-botella-una-guia-completa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/es\/como-reciclar-la-botella-una-guia-completa\/","title":{"rendered":"C\u00f3mo reciclar la botella: una gu\u00eda completa para 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pet-guide\">\n<header class=\"pet-hero\">\n<p class=\"pet-kicker\">2026 Guide \u00b7 PET Bottle Recycling<\/p>\n<h1>How to Recycle PET Bottles: A Practical Guide for 2026<\/h1>\n<p class=\"pet-subtitle\">\n      PET (#1) bottles can be recycled into clean flakes and, in many cases, food-grade rPET\u2014if contamination is controlled.<br \/>\n      This guide breaks down the real industrial workflow: sorting, de-labeling, washing, drying, and optional pelletizing,<br \/>\n      plus the key quality checks recyclers use to protect output value.\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"pet-badges\">\n      <span class=\"pet-badge\">Sorting &#038; De-labeling<\/span><br \/>\n      <span class=\"pet-badge\">Hot Wash &#038; Friction Wash<\/span><br \/>\n      <span class=\"pet-badge\">Drying &#038; QC<\/span><br \/>\n      <span class=\"pet-badge\">Flake or Pellet Output<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n<\/header>\n<nav class=\"pet-toc\" aria-label=\"Table of contents\">\n    <strong>On this page<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#quick\">Quick Facts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#why\">Why PET Bottle Recycling Matters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#process\">The PET Bottle Recycling Process (Step-by-Step)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#types\">Types of PET Bottles &#038; Recyclability<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#contamination\">Contamination Risks (PVC, Labels, Caps, PETG)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#quality\">What \u201cGood rPET Flake\u201d Looks Like<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#systems\">Industrial PET Bottle Recycling Systems<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">FAQ<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#sources\">Sources &#038; Further Reading<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/nav>\n<p>  <!-- Featured-snippet-friendly --><\/p>\n<section id=\"quick\" class=\"pet-section\">\n<div id=\"pet-pillar-cta\" style=\"border-left:4px solid #2c7be5;background:#f4f9ff;padding:14px 18px;margin:0 0 24px 0;border-radius:0 4px 4px 0;font-size:15px;\"><strong>Buying a PET recycling line?<\/strong> See our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/pet-recycling-machines\/\">PET Recycling Machines: Complete Buyer\u2019s Guide 2026<\/a> \u2014 capacity sizing, total cost of ownership, and 8 common pitfalls.<\/div>\n<h2>Quick Facts<\/h2>\n<div class=\"pet-grid\">\n<div class=\"pet-card\">\n<h3>Fast takeaways<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"pet-list\">\n<li><strong>PET bottles persist for centuries<\/strong> in the environment (often cited around ~450 years).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Plastic waste is still far from circular:<\/strong> OECD reports only ~9% was recycled in 2019 (after losses).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Best ROI for recyclers:<\/strong> contamination control (PVC, PETG, labels\/glue, caps) before grinding &#038; hot wash.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Typical outputs:<\/strong> clean PET flakes \u2192 optional SSP\/solid-state processes \u2192 pellets for higher-value applications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-card\">\n<h3>Where quality is won<\/h3>\n<div class=\"pet-points\">\n<div class=\"pet-point\"><span class=\"pet-dot\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Upstream sorting<\/strong> prevents expensive downstream rejects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-point\"><span class=\"pet-dot\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>De-labeling + hot wash<\/strong> removes glue, oils, and residues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-point\"><span class=\"pet-dot\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Drying<\/strong> stabilizes flake handling and melt performance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-point\"><span class=\"pet-dot\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>QC testing<\/strong> protects buyer specs and pricing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"why\" class=\"pet-section\">\n<h2>Why PET Bottle Recycling Matters<\/h2>\n<p>\n      PET bottles are lightweight, durable, and used globally for water, soda, juices, and household products.<br \/>\n      But when mismanaged, they persist for a very long time and break into smaller fragments rather than \u201cdisappearing.\u201d<br \/>\n      Recycling reduces demand for virgin resin, lowers waste leakage risk, and turns post-consumer bottles into valuable raw material.\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"pet-callout\">\n<p>\n        <strong>Reality check:<\/strong> Recycling performance depends on feedstock quality.<br \/>\n        High contamination can turn a \u201crecyclable bottle\u201d into low-grade output\u2014or a total reject batch.\n      <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"process\" class=\"pet-section\">\n<h2>The PET Bottle Recycling Process (Step-by-Step)<\/h2>\n<div class=\"pet-steps\">\n<div class=\"pet-step\">\n        <span class=\"pet-num\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>Collection &#038; Pre-sorting<\/h3>\n<p>\n            Bottles arrive as loose bottles or baled feedstock. A front-end sorting stage removes metals, films, paper, and non-PET containers.<br \/>\n            This is where PVC, PETG, and colored bottles should be separated as early as possible.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-step\">\n        <span class=\"pet-num\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>Debaling &#038; Screening<\/h3>\n<p>\n            Bales are broken, materials are loosened, and fines\/dirt are screened out. Consistent feeding improves downstream wash efficiency.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-step\">\n        <span class=\"pet-num\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>Label &#038; Cap Removal<\/h3>\n<p>\n            Mechanical de-labeling and separation reduce paper\/film carryover. Caps and rings (often PP\/HDPE) are removed using air separation<br \/>\n            and float\/sink logic before and after size reduction.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-step\">\n        <span class=\"pet-num\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>Grinding \/ Crushing to Flake<\/h3>\n<p>\n            Bottles are reduced to flakes for effective washing and separation. Stable flake size supports consistent washing and drying.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-step\">\n        <span class=\"pet-num\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>Hot Wash + Friction Wash<\/h3>\n<p>\n            Hot wash targets oils, sugars, adhesives, and residues; friction wash improves surface cleaning and label\/glue removal.<br \/>\n            This stage is critical for producing high-quality rPET flake.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-step\">\n        <span class=\"pet-num\">6<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>Rinsing, Separation &#038; Drying<\/h3>\n<p>\n            Multi-stage rinsing reduces detergent and contaminants. Drying (mechanical dewatering + thermal drying, depending on setup)<br \/>\n            stabilizes moisture and prepares flakes for storage, extrusion, or pelletizing.\n          <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-step\">\n        <span class=\"pet-num\">7<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>Optional: Extrusion &#038; Pelletizing<\/h3>\n<p>\n            Clean flakes can be melted and filtered to pellets for easier transport and more standardized downstream use.<br \/>\n            Higher-end applications may require additional decontamination steps (e.g., SSP).\n          <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-tablewrap\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"PET recycling outputs table\">\n<table class=\"pet-table\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Output<\/th>\n<th>Best for<\/th>\n<th>Key requirement<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Clean PET flakes<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>fiber, strapping, sheet, general applications<\/td>\n<td>low PVC\/PETG + low label\/glue residue<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Pellets<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>more consistent processing &#038; trading<\/td>\n<td>melt filtration + stable moisture<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Food-grade rPET (where applicable)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>bottle-to-bottle<\/td>\n<td>validated decontamination + strict input control<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"types\" class=\"pet-section\">\n<h2>Types of PET Bottles &#038; Recyclability<\/h2>\n<p>\n      Not all \u201cPET-looking\u201d bottles behave the same in recycling. Knowing what you have helps prevent quality losses.\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"pet-grid\">\n<div class=\"pet-card\">\n<h3>Standard clear PET (#1)<\/h3>\n<p>Highest value stream. Best for high-grade rPET if contamination is controlled.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-card\">\n<h3>Colored PET<\/h3>\n<p>Recyclable but typically lower value than clear due to color limitations and end-market constraints.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-card\">\n<h3>PETG \/ copolyesters<\/h3>\n<p>Can create processing issues in PET streams. Should be separated via sorting where possible.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-card\">\n<h3>Multi-layer \/ barrier bottles<\/h3>\n<p>May require advanced separation and stricter QC; compatibility depends on facility and buyer specs.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"contamination\" class=\"pet-section\">\n<h2>Contamination Risks (PVC, Labels, Caps, PETG)<\/h2>\n<div class=\"pet-alert\">\n<p>\n        <strong>PVC is a \u201cbatch killer\u201d contaminant in PET recycling.<\/strong><br \/>\n        Industry guidance commonly targets very low PVC levels in PET flake (often referenced around tens of ppm).<br \/>\n        Contamination control should start before grinding.\n      <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Top contamination sources<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"pet-list\">\n<li><strong>PVC:<\/strong> bottles, shrink sleeves, some labels\/liners; causes degradation issues at PET processing temperatures.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Labels &#038; glue:<\/strong> paper\/film + adhesives; reduce clarity, increase residue\/odor, and complicate hot wash.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Caps &#038; rings:<\/strong> usually PP\/HDPE; must be separated to protect PET melt and pellet quality.<\/li>\n<li><strong>PETG \/ copolyesters:<\/strong> can create defects and inconsistency if not removed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"pet-callout\">\n<p><strong>Rule of thumb:<\/strong> The more you remove <em>before<\/em> size reduction, the cheaper the process becomes downstream.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"quality\" class=\"pet-section\">\n<h2>What \u201cGood rPET Flake\u201d Looks Like<\/h2>\n<p>\n      Buyer acceptance is usually decided by consistency. Quality checks vary by market, but recyclers commonly manage:<br \/>\n      polymer purity, PVC\/PETG carryover, label\/glue residue, moisture stability, and color\/black specks.\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"pet-grid\">\n<div class=\"pet-card\">\n<h3>Purity &#038; contamination<\/h3>\n<p>Low non-PET polymers (PVC, PP\/HDPE, PETG) improves melt stability and end-market value.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-card\">\n<h3>Cleanliness<\/h3>\n<p>Better hot wash + friction wash reduces residue, odor, and haze\u2014especially important for higher-value rPET.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-card\">\n<h3>Moisture stability<\/h3>\n<p>Consistent drying helps reduce processing issues and improves storage\/handling performance.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"pet-card\">\n<h3>Color management<\/h3>\n<p>Clear streams usually command higher prices; colored and opaque streams often require separate handling.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>  <!-- \u2705 Device page link (soft, late, solution-oriented) --><\/p>\n<section id=\"systems\" class=\"pet-section\">\n<h2>Industrial PET Bottle Recycling Systems<\/h2>\n<p>\n      At industrial scale, PET recycling is typically built as an integrated line\u2014sorting, crushing, washing, separation,<br \/>\n      and drying\u2014engineered around your feedstock (baled bottles vs. loose), contamination level, target output (flake vs pellet),<br \/>\n      and throughput.\n    <\/p>\n<p class=\"pet-softlink\">\n      If you\u2019re evaluating an integrated workflow, see Energycle\u2019s system overview here:<br \/>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/pet-bottle-recycling-system\/\"><br \/>\n        PET Bottle Recycling System<br \/>\n      <\/a>.\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"pet-cta\">\n<h3>What to prepare before sizing a system<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"pet-list\">\n<li>Feedstock photos (bales + close-ups of labels\/caps\/contamination)<\/li>\n<li>Target output: flake or pellets (end use)<\/li>\n<li>Target capacity (kg\/h)<\/li>\n<li>Power supply (voltage \/ Hz)<\/li>\n<li>Local water and wastewater constraints<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"faq\" class=\"pet-section pet-faq\">\n<div id=\"pet-cluster-block\" style=\"border:1px solid #e3e8ef;background:#fafbfc;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0;border-radius:6px;\">\n<h3 style=\"margin-top:0;\">More in this PET recycling series<\/h3>\n<ul style=\"margin-bottom:0;\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/the-recycling-process-and-methods-of-pet-plastic-bottles\/\">The Recycling Process and Methods of PET Plastic Bottles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/key-components-of-a-pet-recycling-machine\/\">Key Components of a PET Recycling Machine<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>FAQ<\/h2>\n<details>\n<summary>Can all PET bottles be recycled the same way?<\/summary>\n<p>\n        Not always. Clear PET is usually the highest-value stream. PETG, multi-layer bottles, heavy labels, and high glue loads<br \/>\n        require stricter sorting and stronger washing to maintain output quality.\n      <\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Why is PVC such a problem in PET recycling?<\/summary>\n<p>\n        PVC behaves differently during thermal processing and can damage PET quality even at very low contamination levels.<br \/>\n        The safest strategy is upstream detection and removal before grinding.\n      <\/p>\n<\/details>\n<details>\n<summary>Is it better to sell flakes or pellets?<\/summary>\n<p>\n        Flakes are simpler and common for many markets. Pellets are more standardized and often easier to trade, but require<br \/>\n        melt filtration and tighter process control. The best choice depends on your buyers and specifications.\n      <\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"sources\" class=\"pet-section\">\n<h2>Sources &#038; Further Reading<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"pet-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/en\/publications\/2022\/02\/global-plastics-outlook_a653d1c9.html\">OECD \u2013 Global Plastics Outlook<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/en\/about\/news\/press-releases\/2022\/06\/global-plastic-waste-set-to-almost-triple-by-2060.html\">OECD press release \u2013 recycling share (2019 baseline)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spglobal.com\/energy\/en\/news-research\/blog\/chemicals\/031121-recycled-plastics-global-market-commoditization-standards-pricing\">S&amp;P Global \u2013 rPET \/ PVC contaminant discussion<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/chariotenergy.com\/blog\/how-long-until-plastic-decomposes\/\">Decomposition timelines (general reference)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"pet-note\">\n      Tip: Keep this list lean (3\u20136 links). Updating sources annually is a strong trust signal for \u201c2026 statistics\u201d pages.\n    <\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<style>\n\/* ======================\nLightweight WP-friendly styles (scoped)\nPrimary color: #4d94e7\n====================== *\/\n.pet-guide{\n  --pet:#4d94e7;\n  --ink:#111827;\n  --muted:#4b5563;\n  --border:#e5e7eb;\n  --soft:#f5f8ff;\n  --soft2:#f8fafc;\n  max-width: 980px;\n  margin: 0 auto;\n  padding: 12px 0;\n  color: var(--ink);\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* Links *\/\n.pet-guide a{\n  color: var(--pet);\n  text-decoration: underline;\n  text-decoration-thickness: 2px;\n  text-underline-offset: 3px;\n}\n.pet-guide a:hover{ opacity: .9; }<\/p>\n<p>\/* Hero *\/\n.pet-hero{\n  padding: 22px 18px;\n  background: linear-gradient(135deg, var(--soft) 0%, #ffffff 60%);\n  border: 1px solid var(--border);\n  border-radius: 14px;\n}\n.pet-kicker{\n  margin: 0 0 6px;\n  font-size: 13px;\n  color: var(--muted);\n  letter-spacing: .2px;\n}\n.pet-hero h1{\n  margin: 0 0 10px;\n  line-height: 1.15;\n}\n.pet-subtitle{\n  margin: 0;\n  color: var(--muted);\n  max-width: 85ch;\n}\n.pet-badges{\n  display:flex;\n  flex-wrap:wrap;\n  gap:8px;\n  margin-top: 14px;\n}\n.pet-badge{\n  display:inline-flex;\n  align-items:center;\n  border:1px solid rgba(77,148,231,.25);\n  background: rgba(77,148,231,.08);\n  color: #1f3b66;\n  padding: 6px 10px;\n  border-radius: 999px;\n  font-size: 13px;\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* TOC *\/\n.pet-toc{\n  margin: 16px 0 0;\n  border: 1px solid var(--border);\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  padding: 14px 16px;\n  background: #fff;\n}\n.pet-toc strong{ display:block; margin-bottom: 8px; }\n.pet-toc ul{ margin: 0; padding-left: 18px; }\n.pet-toc li{ margin: 6px 0; }<\/p>\n<p>\/* Sections *\/\n.pet-section{\n  margin-top: 18px;\n  padding: 18px;\n  background: #fff;\n  border: 1px solid var(--border);\n  border-radius: 14px;\n}\n.pet-section h2{\n  margin-top: 0;\n  border-left: 4px solid var(--pet);\n  padding-left: 10px;\n}\n.pet-section h3{ margin-top: 14px; }<\/p>\n<p>\/* Grid *\/\n.pet-grid{\n  display:grid;\n  grid-template-columns: repeat(12, 1fr);\n  gap: 12px;\n  margin-top: 10px;\n}\n.pet-card{\n  grid-column: span 6;\n  border: 1px solid var(--border);\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  padding: 14px;\n  background: var(--soft2);\n}\n.pet-card h3{ margin-top: 0; }<\/p>\n<p>\/* Lists *\/\n.pet-list{ margin: 10px 0 0; padding-left: 18px; }\n.pet-note{ color: var(--muted); font-size: 14px; margin-top: 10px; }<\/p>\n<p>\/* Quick points *\/\n.pet-points{ margin-top: 10px; }\n.pet-point{ display:flex; gap:10px; align-items:flex-start; margin: 10px 0; }\n.pet-dot{\n  width: 10px; height: 10px; border-radius: 999px;\n  margin-top: 6px;\n  background: rgba(77,148,231,.45);\n  border: 1px solid rgba(77,148,231,.55);\n  flex: 0 0 auto;\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* Steps *\/\n.pet-steps{ display:grid; gap: 10px; margin-top: 10px; }\n.pet-step{\n  display:flex;\n  gap: 12px;\n  padding: 12px;\n  border: 1px solid var(--border);\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  background: #fff;\n}\n.pet-num{\n  width: 34px;\n  height: 34px;\n  border-radius: 10px;\n  display:flex;\n  align-items:center;\n  justify-content:center;\n  background: rgba(77,148,231,.12);\n  border: 1px solid rgba(77,148,231,.25);\n  color: #1f3b66;\n  font-weight: 700;\n  flex: 0 0 auto;\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* Table *\/\n.pet-tablewrap{ overflow:auto; margin-top: 12px; }\n.pet-table{\n  width:100%;\n  border-collapse: collapse;\n  min-width: 620px;\n  background: #fff;\n  border: 1px solid var(--border);\n  border-radius: 10px;\n}\n.pet-table th, .pet-table td{\n  padding: 10px 12px;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border);\n  text-align: left;\n}\n.pet-table thead th{ background: rgba(77,148,231,.08); }\n.pet-table tr:last-child td{ border-bottom: none; }<\/p>\n<p>\/* Callouts *\/\n.pet-callout{\n  margin-top: 12px;\n  border-left: 4px solid var(--pet);\n  background: rgba(77,148,231,.06);\n  padding: 12px 12px 12px 14px;\n  border-radius: 10px;\n}\n.pet-alert{\n  margin-top: 12px;\n  background: linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(77,148,231,.10) 0%, rgba(77,148,231,.04) 100%);\n  border: 1px solid rgba(77,148,231,.25);\n  padding: 12px 14px;\n  border-radius: 12px;\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* Soft link *\/\n.pet-softlink{\n  margin-top: 10px;\n  padding: 12px 14px;\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  border: 1px dashed rgba(77,148,231,.35);\n  background: rgba(77,148,231,.05);\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* CTA *\/\n.pet-cta{\n  margin-top: 12px;\n  padding: 14px;\n  border-radius: 14px;\n  border: 1px solid rgba(77,148,231,.25);\n  background: rgba(77,148,231,.06);\n}\n.pet-cta h3{ margin-top: 0; }<\/p>\n<p>\/* FAQ *\/\n.pet-faq details{\n  border: 1px solid var(--border);\n  border-radius: 12px;\n  padding: 12px 12px;\n  margin-top: 10px;\n  background: #fff;\n}\n.pet-faq summary{ cursor: pointer; font-weight: 700; }\n.pet-faq details p{ margin: 10px 0 0; color: var(--muted); }<\/p>\n<p>\/* Footer *\/\n.pet-footer{\n  margin: 18px 0 4px;\n  text-align: left;\n  color: var(--muted);\n  font-size: 14px;\n}<\/p>\n<p>\/* Responsive *\/\n@media (max-width: 860px){\n  .pet-card{ grid-column: span 12; }\n  .pet-section{ padding: 14px; }\n}\n<\/style>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related Resources<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/pet-bottle-recycling-system\/\">PET recycling system<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/recycling-washing-system\/\">Washing systems<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/the-recycling-process-and-methods-of-pet-plastic-bottles\/\">How PET bottles are recycled<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/plastic-pelletizers\/\">Plastic pelletizers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\n  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\",\n  \"@type\": \"FAQPage\",\n  \"mainEntity\": [\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"What is the best way to recycle plastic bottles?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"The most efficient method is mechanical recycling through a dedicated washing line: crush\/granulate bottles into flakes, wash with hot water and caustic soda to remove labels and contaminants, separate by density (sink-float), dry, and optionally pelletize. This produces clean PET flakes or pellets with 95%+ purity.\"\n      }\n    },\n    {\n      \"@type\": \"Question\",\n      \"name\": \"Can plastic bottles be recycled into new bottles?\",\n      \"acceptedAnswer\": {\n        \"@type\": \"Answer\",\n        \"text\": \"Yes, bottle-to-bottle recycling is commercially viable with proper processing. Food-grade rPET for new bottles requires: hot washing, thorough decontamination, high-quality pelletizing, and often an additional solid-state polycondensation (SSP) step to restore intrinsic viscosity. Not all recycling lines achieve food-grade output.\"\n      }\n    }\n  ]\n}\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Esta gu\u00eda de 2026 explica c\u00f3mo se reciclan las botellas de PET, desde la clasificaci\u00f3n y el lavado hasta la producci\u00f3n de escamas y pellets. Conozca los diferentes tipos de botellas de PET, los desaf\u00edos de contaminaci\u00f3n, como el PVC, y c\u00f3mo se dise\u00f1an los sistemas de reciclaje industrial para obtener rPET de alta calidad.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12092,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"_genesis_title":"PET Bottle Recycling Process Explained (2026 Guide)","_genesis_description":"Learn how PET bottles are recycled in 2026. This guide explains recycling steps, bottle types, contamination challenges and industrial recycling systems.","footnotes":""},"categories":[143],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7705","post","type-post","status-publish","format-image","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-recycling-news","post_format-post-format-image"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7705","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7705"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7705\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19571,"href":"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7705\/revisions\/19571"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7705"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7705"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.energycle.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7705"}],"curies":[{"name":"gracias","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}