Task 1 · Process Diagram
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write at least 150 words.
The diagram below illustrates the steps involved in the processing and recycling of plastic waste at a municipal facility.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features.
Part 1 · Band 9 Sample Answer
The diagram outlines the seven-stage procedure used by a municipal facility to process discarded plastic and return it to the consumer market in new forms.
Overall, the operation is linear, beginning with the arrival of collected waste and ending with the distribution and reuse of products made from the recovered material. Broadly, the plastic is first sorted, cleaned and separated before being converted into pellets, which serve as the raw material for manufacturing.
At the initial stage, plastic waste is collected and delivered to the facility. It then undergoes preliminary sorting, for which both manual labour and mechanical equipment are employed. Once this classification has been completed, the selected plastic is shredded by being ground into flakes. These fragments are also washed during the same stage.
The clean flakes are subsequently divided according to plastic type. This is achieved through flotation, whereby differences in density allow the materials to be separated. Each appropriate plastic stream then passes to the fifth stage, where it is melted and extruded into small pellets. At this point, the waste has become usable manufacturing material rather than discarded plastic.
In the penultimate stage, the recycled pellets are used to produce a range of new goods, including bottles, clothing and other materials. These finished items are finally distributed for sale and reuse, bringing the recovered plastic back into the consumer market.
Part 1 · Band 8 Sample Answer
The diagram shows how plastic waste is treated and recycled in a municipal facility through a sequence of seven stages.
Overall, the process starts when waste plastic is collected and delivered, and finishes when newly manufactured goods are returned to the consumer market. Before new products can be made, the material is sorted, reduced to clean flakes, separated by type and transformed into pellets.
First, collected plastic is transported to the recycling facility. It is then sorted using a combination of manual and mechanical methods. Following this initial selection, the plastic is shredded, which involves grinding it into small flakes. These pieces are also washed so that they are clean enough for the later stages.
Next, the flakes are separated into different plastic types on the basis of density. This separation is carried out by flotation. The resulting material is then melted and pelletised: it is extruded into pellets that can be used as raw material for production.
At the manufacturing stage, the recycled pellets are converted into new products. The examples shown include plastic bottles, clothes and other materials. In the seventh and final stage, these goods are distributed and made available for reuse. They therefore return to the consumer market after the original plastic waste has passed through the complete municipal recycling procedure.
Part 1 · Band 7 Sample Answer
The diagram illustrates the seven steps used to process and recycle plastic waste at a municipal recycling facility.
Overall, the procedure begins with the collection and delivery of used plastic. It ends when new products are distributed back to consumers. The main parts of the process involve sorting the waste, cleaning and separating it, turning it into pellets, and using this material to manufacture new goods.
At the first stage, plastic waste is collected and delivered to the facility. It is then sorted both manually and mechanically. After this initial sorting, the selected plastic is shredded by grinding it into flakes. The flakes are also washed during this stage.
The clean pieces of plastic are next separated according to their type. This is done by flotation, which separates the materials based on their density. Once the different types have been divided, the plastic is melted. It is then extruded into pellets, which form the raw material needed for manufacturing.
In the sixth stage, manufacturers use these pellets to make new products. These can include bottles, clothes and various other materials. Finally, the completed goods are distributed and returned to the consumer market for reuse. In this way, waste plastic is changed from discarded material into useful products through a clear series of treatment and production stages.