Nonmetallics

The American Plastics Council (APC), Arlington, Va., has published the “Plastic Film Recovery Guide,” a publication designed to help recyclers, businesses and local governments capture and recycle used plastic film. Materials covered within the guide include polyethylene (PET) retail bags and PET stretch/shrink/pallet wrap.

“This guide will help businesses decide how they can best recover their plastic film,” says APC vice president for non-durables Patty Enneking.

PET shrink wrap and bags are used by manufacturers to protect shipments of furniture, auto parts and any number of other components. According to the APC, the rising demand for plastic/wood products such as decking and plastic-composite lumber has fueled the market for recycled film.

The “Plastic Film Recovery Guide” covers topics such as understanding market requirements and examines best practices for diversion and recovery. It is geared to businesses that generate one ton or more per month of plastic film waste, but could have applications for smaller generators. More information on the guide is available at the APC website, www.plastics.org, or by calling (800) 243-5790.

RECYCLER BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO TONKA BUILDING

A plastics recycler has brought industrial activity back to a 60,000-square foot building that had formerly been a manufacturing facility for the Tonka Toy Co.

Recycling Alternatives Inc., Spring Park, Minn., processes multi-polymer thermoplastic post-industrial waste. RAI, founded in 1994, now provides collection and recycling services for more than 40 varieties of commercially generated plastic scrap materials that it collects from more than 150 companies throughout the upper Midwest.

RAI receives the plastics it recycles by railcar and through its own fleet of trucks from thermoformers, molders, extruders, printers and other plastic parts fabricators. In turn, RAI supplies plastic regrind to manufacturers worldwide.