Recycling Industry Bodies Team Up on Plastic Bale Standards

The U.S. Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) and the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR), have published joint plastic model bale specifications to provide clarity and uniformity within the industry. Together the two trade associations said that they represent almost every postconsumer plastic recycling company in the U.S. The model bale specifications were said to be the results of a Plastic Scrap Specification Taskforce, which the two organisations formed with the aim of finding common ground on the specifications and thereby improving the efficiency of trade. The new model specifications include Bulky Rigids, Tubs and Lids with Bulky, and Tubs and Lids without Bulky. Each association will still publish the model specifications individually, but those will be based on the same description language to avoid competing standards that may otherwise force the industry to choose between the two or disregard them all together. “Recognising a need within the industry, the joint taskforce first sought to develop collective specifications for more popular grades, and now will work in cooperation to issue specifications for additional grades,” explained Robin Wiener, president of ISRI. “This first of its kind collaboration better sets the parameters for agreements between buyers and sellers,” he added. According to Tom Busard, chairman of APR, and vice president of Plastipak Corporation, the goal of APR is to secure more good material that is available for reclamation. “We have had industry bale specifications for many years. By working with the scrap industry, we hope to identify and capture more plastic packaging that may not have been separated and made available for recycling,” he commented. The Taskforce is seeking input from other stakeholders with interest in uniform scrap specifications for additional grades. ISRI released its specifications as part of its updated Scrap Specification Circular (p. 39-42), while the APR published the specifications HERE Read More VIDEO - Presona Launch High Efficiency Waste & Recycling Baler Presona AB has launched the latest in its LP Series of balers, the LP 85 VH, which offers enhanced performance and reduced energy consumption and life cycle costs. La Paz County Landfill & Waste to Energy Deal to Raise Revenues La Paz County is to enter into an agreement with Republic Services for the operation of its huge landfill and has also made a deal to supply a waste to energy plant in California by rail. VIDEO: Indiana Secures $260m Paper Recycling Facility Conyers, Georgia based paper and packaging company, Pratt Paper, is to develop a new $260 million paper recycling facility in Valparaiso, Indiana.