APR completes national mixed rigid bale composition study

A recently released study designed to determine the type of plastic material contained in mixed rigid bales will serve as the basis for the continued expansion of plastics recycling beyond traditional containers and packaging, according to the Washington-based Association of Postconsumer Plastics Recyclers (APR), the organization that commissioned the study. Moore Recycling, Sonoma, California, conducted the study, which follows up on an initial survey conducted in 2011 to determine the composition of various types of mixed rigid plastic bales in North America.

“As recycling rates continue to grow, understanding the type and tonnage available for recycling in North America will strengthen and advance investment in non-bottle rigid recycling,” says J. Scott Saunders, general manager of KW Plastics, Troy, Alabama, and chairman of APR.

The 2015 National Mixed Rigid Bale Composition Study focused on nontraditional bales of plastic.  It was designed to demonstrate the types of plastic containers in the bales and the value of separating the material and to encourage the continued expansion of plastics recycling to include nonbottle rigid materials.

“This project is part of APR’s continued efforts to improve bale quality,” says Liz Bedard, director of the APR rigids program. “In order to justify an investment to expand processing capacity, we must understand the different types of material available for reclamation.”

A total of 23 bales were sorted by resin and by product type at four different North American facilities. A handheld resin ID unit was used to spot check for items that were not easily identified by sight, feel or sound.  Once the sorts were complete, each resin/product category was weighed and recorded and samples of product categories were photographed.  In total, between product categories and resin type, baled material was divided into 90 sorts, the APR notes.

The full study contains a breakout of each type of bale, sorted by product and resin categories, and shows average percentage of each category in the bale.  In addition, the appendix includes detailed sort data broken down both by bale type/product category and by bale type/ resin.  The report also includes comparative data from the “2010/2011 National Mixed Rigid Plastic Bale Composition Study & Analysis of Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Available for Recycling.”

The Executive Summary is available on the APR website here. An informational webinar about The 2015 National Mixed Rigid Bale Composition Study will be presented Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2015, at 1 pm EDT.  Click here to register.