Cycled Plastics

Plastic RecyclingMarkets 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.

#4 LDPE butter tub cannot be recycled with #4 dry cleaning bags

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

Plastic Origins

Post IndustrialManufacturing waste create during a

process or obsolete / overstock inventory

Plastic Origins

Post ConsumerHas been utilized for its intended use. Can be generated by corporations

Plastic Type: #1 PET

Blow grade (sports drink bottles)

Extrusion Grade (food service trays)

Injection grade (engineered moldings)

High Melt (clothing and carpet fiber)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

Rural Obstacles

Lack of Community Support

Limited funds allocated to recycling efforts

Limited facilities and/or capacity

Rural Solutions

Collecting / Recycling now: Get community leaders involved Get kids involved

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

Definition: Recycling1. Product manufactured with a recyclable plastic?

Definition: Recycling1. Product manufactured with a recyclable plastic?

2. Collection efficiency / cost (i.e. curbside, muni drop-off, retail collection point, etc)

Definition: Recycling1. Product manufactured with a recyclable plastic?

2. Collection efficiency / cost (i.e. curbside, muni drop-off, retail collection point, etc)

3. Established resale market

Definition: Recycling1. Product manufactured with a recyclable plastic?

2. Collection efficiency / cost (i.e. curbside, muni drop-off, retail collection point, etc)

3. Established resale market

4. Self sustaining program

Less EnergyThe recycling process must NOT be financially or environmentally prohibitive in that: Less DIRECT energy consumed Less INDIRECT energy expended

Markets

Public / Private partnership

Put it out for bid: Brokers Intermediate Processors Manufacturers

Markets

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

Markets

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

Markets

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

Pricing Trends

Relationship of oil / natural gas prices to virgin resin

Pricing Trends

Relationship of oil / natural gas prices to virgin resin Extreme Weather

Hurricanes Katrina / Rita

Pricing Trends

Relationship of oil / natural gas prices to virgin resin Extreme Weather

Hurricanes Katrina / Rita

Seasonal / Construction

Summary

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