Abstract: The method of the present invention involves taking a comminuted mixture of waste plastic materials, feeding the mixture into a screw extruder capable of applying heat and pressure to the mixture; using the screw extruder to heat the mixture to a temperature of between 350.degree. and 600.degree. Fahrenheit; and forcing the molten mixture outwardly through a die opening under a pressure of from 100 lbs. per sq. inch to 600 lbs. per sq. inch into a mold in tightly sealed relationship over the die opening. The mold, after being filled, is removed from the screw extruder, and the mixture is permitted to cool and harden in the mold. The hardened mixture is then removed from the mold.

Abstract: A product is made by recycling a beverage container comprising a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) body having a plastic base cup and a metal cap attached thereto. The base cup is made from a plastic material different from the PET. The method includes grinding the entire beverage container including the PET body, the metal cap and the base cup, into particles sufficiently small to flow into a plastics molding machine. The ground particles are fed into a molding machine which heats and applies pressure to them and forces them into a mold of predetermined shape. The molded material is then cooled whereby the molded material hardens and forms a solid object having the predetermined shape of the mold.

Abstract: The molding machine of the present invention comprises a screw extruder for extruding plastic material. A plurality of molds are moved one at a time to the outlet end of the extruder for receiving the plastic material therefrom. One end of the mold is open for receiving the plastic material and the opposite end of the mold includes a closure plate covering the end of the mold. The closure plate has a small fill sensing aperture therein. A sensing switch is mounted adjacent the fill sensing aperture and is adapted to sense when molded plastic exits from the fill sensing aperture so as to shut off the extruder and cause the mold to move away from the extruder so that an additional mold can be filled. A cylinder operated closure device clamps the opposite ends of the mold after the mold has moved away from the filling station so as to contain the plastic material within the mold while the plastic material cools and hardens.