Yes, plastic can be crushed mechanically into smaller pieces or granules using specialized equipment such as plastic crushers or granulators. 

These plastic crusher machines utilize mechanisms like rotating blades, hammers, or shearing forces to break down larger plastic items into smaller fragments.

The process of crushing plastic may vary depending on the specific type of plastic and the equipment used, considering differences in hardness and resilience among plastic types. 

However, most common plastics can typically be crushed into smaller pieces suitable for recycling or further processing.

Efficiently crushing plastic is a vital step in recycling, enabling the transformation of used plastic items into raw materials. 

These materials can be repurposed in the production of new plastic products, contributing to sustainable manufacturing processes.