Pbi-28 Recommended Practice For Documentation Of Recycled Hdpe.pdf

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Technical Bulletin PBI 28-1993 RECOMMENDED PRACTICE FOR DOCUMENTATION OF RECYCLED HDPE CONTENT IN BALED BOTTLES AND RECLAIMED RESIN 1.0 SCOPE 1.1

The purpose of this procedure is to provide a standard means by which post-consumer HDPE bottles, and the post-consumer resin made there-from, can be documented as originating from true post-consumer sources. As such, what constitutes post-consumer HDPE is defined and contrasted to what is defined as post-industrial materials. This will provide a uniform set of criteria which may be used by bottle producers when specifying post-consumer HDPE resins for their internal use.

2.0 SUMMARY OF PRACTICE: 2.1 Procedures and documentation are necessary to ensure that bottle producers are receiving true post-consumer resins, regardless of where the resin is purchased. Also, reclaimers require a standard by which bottle purchases can be made, assuring that these bottles are "post-consumer" in nature. By employing the definitions listed above, documentation can be provided that testify as to the nature of the feedstock in question. The principal delineation made between post-consumer and post-industrial bottles is whether or not the bottle has been filled with product. If it has, it can be considered post-consumer, since at that point it is fulfilling its intended end use of delivering product to the consumer. These bottles can also be considered as post-consumer sourced because the recycling of these containers will serve to divert them from the solid waste stream. Documentation must be supplied by the collector to the reclaimer as to the origin of the bottles being delivered. This will serve as primary documentation to be used by

the reclaimer in certifying the origin post-consumer resin to the bottle producer.

of

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3.0 DEFINITIONS 3.1 Post-Consumer Materials-Those products generated by a business or consumer that have served their intended end uses, and that have been separated or diverted from solid waste for the purpose of collection, recycling, and disposition. The term "intended end use" includes the distribution, marketing, and use of consumer products. This definition includes any bottle that has been filled with product, including those bottles which have been rejected due to leakage or product spoilage. 3.2

Recovered Material-Materials and by-products that have been recovered or diverted from solid waste, but not including those materials and byproducts generated from, and commonly reused within an original manufacturing process, as well as those resins that are reusable after grinding only.

3.3

Recycled Plastics-Those plastics composed of post-consumer material or recovered material only, or both, that may or may not have been subjected to additional processing steps of the types used to make products such as regrind-recycled, or reprocessed or reconstituted plastics.

4.0 REFERENCED DOCUMENTS 4.1 ASTM D-5033 "The Development of Standards Relating to the Proper Use of Recycled Plastics"

To the best of our knowledge the information contained herein is accurate. However, The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. assumes no liability whatsoever for the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. Final determination of the suitability of any information of material for the use contemplated, the manner of use and whether there is any infringement of patents is the sole responsibility of the user. This test method or practice may involve hazardous materials, operations, and equipment. This test method does not purport to address all of the safety measures associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this method to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of any federal, state, and local regulatory limitations prior to use. COPYRIGHT  1993 by THE SOCIETY OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY, INC.

PBI 28 - Page 2 of 2 5.0

DOCUMENTATION OF RECYCLED HDPE CONTENT IN BALED BOTTLES 5.1

The reclaimer shall require documentation from the bottle collector stating the source of the bottles being supplied. This documentation will state the municipality(ies) or other sources from which the bottles are collected. The collection method must also be stated, be it curbside pick-up, drop-off centers, materials recovery facilities, some other collection method, or any combination thereof. If marketed as post-consumer bottles, then all bottles must conform to the definition supplied in this document. The reclaimer shall have these records on-hand to support subsequent sales of resin in either pellet or flake form. Recommended retention of these records is three years. As stated earlier, the principal delineation made between post-consumer and post-industrial bottles is whether or not the bottle has been filled with product. If it has, it can be considered as post-consumer by virtue of the fact that it is considered to be fulfilling an intended end use, that of delivering product to the consumer. These bottles can also be considered postconsumer sourced when the recycling of these containers will serve to divert them from the solid waste stream.

6.0

DOCUMENTATION OF RECYCLED HDPE CONTENT IN RECLAIMED RESIN 6.1

With supporting records obtained from the baled bottle supplier, the reclaimer will certify to the bottle producer the total recycled HDPE content of the resin supplied. This can be done in the form of a certification letter or in conjunction with the certificate of analysis supplied with every lot. The certification method should be agreed upon by both reclaimer and bottle producer. If the reclaimer has been supplied bottles from 100% postconsumer sources (as defined above) and nothing has been added to the resin in the form of additives or color concentrates, then the reclaimer can sell the resin as 100% post-consumer resin. If additives, color concentrates, or any other substances have been added to the resin during production other than agents used to clean the resin, however, a statement must be made to that effect in the letter of certification/certificate of analysis. The statement should state the nature of the material being added to the resin (additive, color, etc.) and the total loading as a percentage of the total. The statement need not specify exact ingredients if it is considered a proprietary formulation. These statements are needed when bottle producers make recycled HDPE content claims about their bottle production.