The introduction to a polyethylene terephthalate bottle recycling plant describes each procedure involved in processing the bottles into staple fibers, including bottle recycling, flake storage and blending, flake drying, and fiber extrusion and processing. A comparison of the leading extrusion and processing lines for the production of polyester fiber reveals that the advantages of a compact spinning line include a simple and easily controllable structure, easy operation, low investment costs, and low building costs. Two step processes, however, are suitable for the economic production of high volumes, for combinations with a continuous polymer plant, and for a wider range of fiber types. A compact extrusion line developed jointly by Fleissner and Rieter for the production of carpet fiber and fiberfill comprises an initial drawstand, draw oven, a second drawstand, tow stacker, steaming duct, crimper, perforated belt dryer, tensioning stand, cutter, and baler. The key advantage of the Fleissner/Rieter system is that the spun tows are presented to the fiber line in uniform shapes, resulting in a more even fiber crimp.