The Materials Recovery For the Future (MRFF) consortium has announced that its pilot research report demonstrates the successful collection, separation and preparation for recycling of flexible plastic packaging (FPP). The pilot research was performed in partnership with J.P. Mascaro & Sons at the TotalRecycle material recovery facility (MRF) in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania. 

Resource Recycling Systems (RRS) prepared a report on the pilot research. According to the report, FPP can be efficiently captured in a large, single-stream MRF and processed into a commodity bale, known as rFlex, for reuse in a variety of markets while diverting plastic from landfills.

The report also identifies more than a dozen end-market opportunities for FPP. Building envelope products such as roofing materials represent the highest volume and most immediate end market opportunities. Other high-volume opportunities for using rFlex include pallets and railroad ties, where recycled plastic can serve as a durable alternative to traditional wood. 

Within one year of installing FPP sortation equipment at the TotalRecycle MRF, four of the five sortation performance goals established for the pilot demonstration were achieved, and the program continues to progress toward achieving the fifth goal, according to RRS. The five pilot research goals include:

• reduce the amount of FPP going into fiber products, even with increased FPP in feedstocks;
• minimize paper in the rFlex product bale;
• reduce fiber quality control staff by 25 percent and reallocate that staff to other job functions in the MRF;
• integrate the FPP recovery system into TotalRecycle’s existing MRF control system; and
• capture at least 90 percent of FPP.

According to the report, the last goal of capturing at least 90 percent FPP needs improvement as the pilot project achieved a 74 percent capture rate in February 2020 testing. The report states that additional equipment tuning and a minor upgrade are in process to help meet this goal. 

“It’s critically important to find financially viable opportunities and markets for rFlex bales,” says Susan Graff, MRFF research director and vice president at RRS. “Our hope is that the pilot research serves as a valuable data set to help other MRFs and communities economically recycle FPP while making cleaner paper bales. By working together to update sorting equipment, municipalities and businesses can support better quality recycling and meet commitments to buy more recycled-content products.”

“It’s exciting to be a part of this important research pilot in FPP recycling and see the innovative process be both successfully integrated in our facility and well adopted by our communities,” says Joseph Mascaro Sr., director of recycling and sustainability at J.P. Mascaro & Sons.

Click here for the full report.

U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan and Rep. Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio have introduced the Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Act as bipartisan legislation to reduce plastic waste and improve the global competitiveness of the U.S. plastics recycling industry. 

The Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Act directs the establishment of a plastic waste reduction and recycling research and development program, calls on the federal government to develop a strategic plan for plastic waste reduction and calls for the development of standards for plastics recycling technologies.

The proposed legislation would:

• direct the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish a Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Program to improve the global competitiveness of the U.S. plastics recycling industry;
• direct the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish an interagency committee to coordinate the program and develop a strategic plan for plastic waste reduction and recycling and plastic waste remediation;
• direct the National Institute of Standards and Technologies to carry out research and provide the metrology basis for standards development for plastics recycling and related technologies, and to develop a clearinghouse to support dissemination of the tools, guidelines, and standards supported by the program;

• direct the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support research and other activities on advanced recycling technologies, plastic waste remediation and the public health impacts of microplastics, among other topics; and

• authorize funding for five years and invest $85 million in 2021 for these activities.

“We can no longer deny that we face a plastic waste crisis,” Stevens says. “In 2018, the U.S. woke up to the fragile predicament of our plastic waste management system. No longer able to ship our plastic waste to international markets, U.S. cities were forced to cut long-standing recycling programs. Instead, they had to resort to incinerating recyclables or tossing them in landfills. 

“There are plenty of reasons for why and how we got here; however, a major factor is because we failed as a nation to invest in domestic recycling infrastructure and policies to account for the growing demand for plastic,” she says. “As a result, today, the U.S. recycles just 9 percent of its plastic waste. The Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Act will help develop a world-leading U.S. industry in advanced plastics recycling technologies and unleash the innovative potential of our nation to address our plastic waste crisis and generate greater value from the plastics we do produce.”

The Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Act is endorsed by the American Chemical Council (ACC), American Chemistry Society, American Beverage Association and Plastics Industry Association (Plastics).

“We applaud the introduction by Rep. Haley Stevens of the Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Act to improve recycling in this country and look forward to working with every member of Congress to ensure this important piece of legislation becomes law. Innovative companies are eager to use more recycled material to create new products and prevent waste from entering the environment,” says Tony Radoszewski, president and CEO of Plastics. 

“Passing the Plastics Waste Reduction and Recycling Act would accelerate research and development on advanced plastics recycling technologies, which would enable a significantly greater range of our plastics resources to be repurposed,” the ACC states in a news release about the proposed legislation. “It also would increase research and coordination across federal agencies on plastic waste reduction as well as recycling. The ACC appreciates the approach taken by Reps. Haley Stevens and Anthony Gonzalez to better align and coordinate these various initiatives and harness the expertise of different agencies for greater success in ending plastic waste.”

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), Washington, has voiced its support of the proposed legislation in a statement that reads: "ISRI supports initiatives that spur research and enhance opportunities for recycling of all commodities, including plastics. We welcome the Plastic Waste and Reduction Act and commend Rep. Stevens and Rep. Gonzalez for their vision to make the United States a leader in market-based approaches to the circular economy of plastics. ISRI looks forward to working with these and other members of Congress to promote recycling and help Americans rediscover its many benefits."

Terex Ecotec, Newton, New Hampshire, has announced the expansion of its shredding range with the introduction of the TSS 390, a robust and versatile single-shaft, slow-speed shredder. Powered by a 493 horsepower Scania DC13 engine, it is designed for maximum output and minimum down time.

“We are committed to delivering innovative, high quality products, and the addition of the TSS 390 will further enhance an already significant range of shredding products,” Tony Devlin, business line director for Terex Ecotec says. "The TSS 390 has been rigorously tested and proven in a diverse range of applications and will open new opportunities in the market. It will be manufactured in our new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Derry, Northern Ireland, which will support the ongoing growth and development of Terex Ecotec’s ever expanding product portfolio.”

The TSS 390’s 3-meter-long shredding shaft was designed in-house and is made from heavy-duty steel with easily replaceable, bolt-on shredding teeth. Being hydrostatically driven, Terex Ecotec says it offers the benefit of full speed, full torque reverse and provides protection against contaminants. This combined with customizable shredding programs enable the operator to configure the machine to their specific requirements and offers improved shaft cleaning in difficult applications, reducing wrappage and optimizing throughput.

Shredding takes place against a hydraulically adjustable counter comb, which allows the operator to tailor the product size to suit their needs. This comb can be operated in either a fixed position, where product size is critical or in release mode when the comb can open rapidly to allow large contaminants to pass without the need to stop shredding.

In addition, all conveyors are modular in design allowing each one to be removed independently reducing maintenance downtime. A separate transfer conveyor with a high specification belt ensures material is effectively removed from below the shredding chamber. Both the transfer and product conveyors benefit from a speed monitoring which adds additional protection against blockages. 

The optional over-band magnet provides magnetic separation and is both height and angle adjustable via a remote control. The magnet can be configured to discharge from either side of the machine and lifts up and away from the product conveyor when not in use. The chamber camera and monitor screen are an optional extra, however it enables the operator to see exactly what is happening inside the chamber and helps refine the shredding programs to provide maximum throughput in even the most difficult applications.

Available in both tracked and wheeled variants the TSS 390 will come fitted as standard with the T-Link telematics solution. 

TC Transcontinental, Montréal, has announced the acquisition of the assets of Enviroplast Inc. The equipment acquired will be used for converting plastic scrap recovered from sorting facilities and other commercial, industrial and agricultural sources into recycled plastic granules. 

“The circular economy is the way of the future," says Sylvain Levert, senior vice president of the Recycling Group at TC Transcontinental Packaging. “This equipment acquisition is part of our goal to vertically integrate the recycling of plastics in our packaging production chain in Canada, the United States and Latin America, ultimately ensuring stable procurement of recycled resin. We are proud of this first step and are counting on the collaboration of public and private stakeholders to meet the plastic recycling challenge, and to promote the creation in Québec of a center of expertise in the circular economy of plastics.”  

The company wants to set itself apart by offering eco-responsible packaging products that contain recycled plastic, creating a true circular economy. Flexible plastic packaging protects the products, facilitates transportation and helps extend product shelf life.

In addition, the Recycling Group contributes to TC Transcontinental's objectives as a signatory of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, including increasing the postconsumer recycled content across its entire portfolio of flexible plastic packaging products. 

TC Transcontinental creates flexible packaging in North America and is Canada’s largest printer. Its mission is to create quality products and services that allow businesses to attract, reach and retain their target customers. TC Transcontinental has approximately 8,500 employees, the majority of which are based in Canada, the United States and Latin America.