Mechanical recycling, also known as traditional recycling, is the type of takeback recycling method commonly used in office buildings or homes where RIC (Resin Identification Code) 1 and RIC 2 types of plastic are put into recycling bins. The used plastics typically are sorted, cleaned, shredded, melted, and then re-extruded into plastic pellets. These pellets are then used in new plastic packaging and other products that are typically downcycled which means that, after a certain number of uses, the plastic can no longer be recycled after a certain number of uses.