When recycling processor Invema switched from a high-speed friction washer to an updated system relying on boilers and chemicals, something unexpected happened: Energy usage decreased by 20 percent.
When recycling processor Invema switched from a high-speed friction washer to an updated system relying on boilers and chemicals, something unexpected happened: Energy usage decreased by 20 percent.
International appliance maker Electrolux reports it used 7,400 metric tons of recycled plastic last year, nearly double what it used two years earlier.
Dow Chemical Co. says its new compatibilizer allows reclaimers to get improved properties from PE-PP mixes, making it possible to move the material into higher-value applications.
Keurig Green Mountain, which helped popularize single-serve coffee and tea pods, is attempting to beef up its recycling efforts.
Cornell University researchers push ahead a technology that could lift PE and PP recycling, and a handful of companies targeting hard-to-recycle plastics grab attention.
An increasing number of grocery chains are recycling rigid plastic containers through back-of-store programs, providing a clean source of HDPE and PP for reclaimers.
Prices for recycled CoPP and HoPP flake and pellet were lower at the start of 2017, with the biggest decline seen for CoPP injection-grade repro. This shift was driven by weaker end-user and reprocessor demand and oversupply.
As plastic packaging continues to evolve, so too will the testing protocols used to determine recyclability, according to the Association of Plastic Recyclers.
The Association of Plastic Recyclers describes the relationship between plastics recovery and sustainability, and recycled-plastic products on two continents are highlighted.
Keep recycling simple and be patient with generators, because behavior change takes time and requires consistent reinforcement. That may sound like advice for residential curbside recycling programs, but it’s also key to establishing a recycling program for plastics coming out of hospitals.