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Cycled Plastics

Cycled Plastics. Plastic Recycling Markets and Trends. “Plastic’s 101”. Most Common Misconception: All plastics with the same recycling symbol are recycled together. Examples: #1PET microwave dish cannot be recycled with #1 PET soda bottle.

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Cycled Plastics

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  1. Cycled Plastics Plastic Recycling Markets and Trends

  2. “Plastic’s 101” • Most Common Misconception: • All plastics with the same recycling symbol are recycled together. • Examples: • #1PET microwave dish cannot be recycled with #1 PET soda bottle. • #4 LDPE butter tub cannot be recycled with #4 dry cleaning bags

  3. Plastic Grades • Blow Molding Grade: • Water and sports drink bottles • Extrusion Grade: • Plastic lumber, vacuum formed trays, clam shell packaging • Film Grade: • Trash/grocery bags, pallet stretch wrap • Injection Grade: • Milk crates, battery cases • High Melt: • Clothing, carpet

  4. Plastic Origins • Post Industrial • Manufacturing waste create during a process or obsolete / overstock inventory

  5. Plastic Origins • Post Consumer • Has been utilized for its intended use. • Can be generated by corporations

  6. Plastic Type: #1 PET • Blow grade (sports drink bottles) • Extrusion Grade (food service trays) • Injection grade (engineered moldings) • High Melt (clothing and carpet fiber)

  7. Plastic Type: #2 HDPE • Blow grade (milk, household detergent bottles) • Extrusion Grade (plastic lumber, drainage pipe) • Film Grade (trash/grocery bags) • Injection Grade (milk crates, shipping containers) • High Melt (stadium cups)

  8. Plastic Type: #3 PVC • Blow grade (household detergent bottles) • Extrusion Grade (home siding, clam shell packaging, pipe, fence, decking) • Film Grade (medical i.v. bags) • Injection Grade (shoe soles, automotive parts)

  9. Plastic Type: #4 LDPE • Blow grade (squeezable condiment bottles) • Extrusion Grade (plastic lumber) • Film Grade (packaging foam, dry cleaning bags, food storage bags, garbage bags, stretch film) • Injection Grade (food container lids)

  10. Plastic Type: #5 PP • Blow grade (medicine and food condiment bottles) • Film Grade (shrink film, potato chip bags) • Injection Grade (packaging foam, bottle caps and closures, auto bumpers, battery cases) • High Melt (brooms, brushes)

  11. Plastic Type: #6 PS • Extrusion Grade (foam packaging products) • Film Grade (protective film and labels) • Injection Grade (office products, durable goods components, cd jewel cases)

  12. Recent Trends • Post-consumer plastics recycled has increased every year since at least 1990.  • In 2005, a record 2,102,000,000 pounds1. • 1,170 million pounds of PET bottles were recycled in 2005.1 • HDPE bottle recycling increased in 2005 to 922 million pounds.1 • All plastic bottles were recycled at a rate of 24 percent in 2005.1 1 American Chemistry Council, “2005 National Post-Consumer Plastic Bottle Recycling Report”. 2006

  13. Rural Obstacles • Lack of Community Support • Limited funds allocated to recycling efforts • Limited facilities and/or capacity

  14. Rural Solutions • Collecting / Recycling now: • Get community leaders involved • Get kids involved

  15. Rural Solutions • Collecting / Recycling now: • Get community leaders involved • Get kids involved • Not Collecting / Recycling now: • Central Collection: • Stage collection bins / containers at local retail sites • Unsorted Curbside Collection • Public / Private partnership for remainder of the process • Regional or consolidated processing facility / CO-OP

  16. Definition: Recycling • Product manufactured with a recyclable plastic?

  17. Definition: Recycling • Product manufactured with a recyclable plastic? • Collection efficiency / cost (i.e. curbside, muni drop-off, retail collection point, etc)

  18. Definition: Recycling • Product manufactured with a recyclable plastic? • Collection efficiency / cost (i.e. curbside, muni drop-off, retail collection point, etc) • Established resale market

  19. Definition: Recycling • Product manufactured with a recyclable plastic? • Collection efficiency / cost (i.e. curbside, muni drop-off, retail collection point, etc) • Established resale market • Self sustaining program

  20. Less Energy • The recycling process must NOT be financially or environmentally prohibitive in that: • Less DIRECT energy consumed • Less INDIRECT energy expended

  21. Markets • Public / Private partnership • Put it out for bid: • Brokers • Intermediate Processors • Manufacturers

  22. Markets • Brokers • Buy & Sell • Typically do not “touch” the product • Minimum of 35,000 lbs. per truckload

  23. Markets • Intermediate Processors • Grind, Wash, Dry , Pelletize • Mixed truckloads common , lighter weight • Catered programs / Waste Audits

  24. Markets • Manufacturers • Purchase from collectors, brokers, processors • Minimum of 35,0000 lbs. per truckload • More difficult to setup catered collection

  25. Pricing Trends • Relationship of oil / natural gas prices to virgin resin

  26. Pricing Trends • Relationship of oil / natural gas prices to virgin resin • Extreme Weather • Hurricanes Katrina / Rita

  27. Pricing Trends • Relationship of oil / natural gas prices to virgin resin • Extreme Weather • Hurricanes Katrina / Rita • Seasonal / Construction

  28. Summary • Inform your community • Get civic leaders involved • Create a “buzz” • Be creative • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

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