Plastics Recycling: Tools to Collect for Value. Tonya Randell Moore Recycling Associates NRRA Conference May 16, 2016

Transcription

1 Plastics Recycling: Tools to Collect for Value Tonya Randell Moore Recycling Associates NRRA Conference May 16, 2016

2 Overview Why Quality Pays: Market Drivers & Influences Plastic Scrap Pricing How to Collect for Quality: Clear Terminology Dealing with Plastic Film Resources

3 Recycling is a Business Like all manufacturing, Plastic Recycling must... Have available raw material Collection Quality Attract investment Innovate Adequate reclamation capacity Make profitable products Sufficient end market Source: Dave Cornell

4 Market Influences The price of natural gas, petroleum and derivatives Available virgin resin production capacity relative to demand General economic conditions The supply of industrial scrap or off-spec material Available recycled resin production capacity relative to demand

5 Historical Plastic Scrap Price vs. Oil 2007-present

6 Plastics Recycling Terms: Better Terminology = Better Recycling Better Terminology Less Confusion Residents Communities More Plastics Collected Better Communication More Successful Plastics Recycling MRFs Markets

7 The Terms and Tools Goal: Increase the quality and quantity of plastics collected and to facilitate better tracking. Outreach Terms: Common terminology and simple tools for community recycling programs in the US and Canada to help these programs communicate more effectively to residents about plastic recycling. Commodity Terms: Streamline communications about buying and selling plastics that have been collected in the plastics value chain.

8 Quality and Quantity: The Local Challenge People are confused and overwhelmed. Plastics 1-7: Can I recycle everything plastic!?! I don t get it, so forget it! OR: I m not sure, but I ll put it in anyway. But, what about these? Need meaningful terms that effectively communicate

9 A Solution: Outreach Terms: 4 easy steps to build your program with Images and Tool to build program flyer. RecycleYourPlastics.org

10 Step 1: Main Program Categories Select the Main Program Category that best describes the plastics you will accept.

11 Step 2: Additions Additions can be added to one of the seven Main Categories OR can be used as individual selections, if the Categories don t fit your program.

12 How Terms are Defined Categories from the first two steps are defined for easy usage.

13 Step 3: Exclusions Only include the most important Exclusions. Too much information may leave your residents feeling overwhelmed and they won t pay attention to the important details.

14 Step 4: Notes/Instructions & Finish Add Notes at the end of your program list to provide clear, additional directions. You re Done! Now, either create a Program Flyer OR use the Royalty-Free Images to create your own in- house flyer.

15 Create Your Own Flyer Pulls in Program selections Image selections Add Logo Community info Contact info

16 Image Gallery Royalty-free Acceptable items and exclusions Provided in JPEG, TIFF, and EPS EPS allows for easy layering Images provided by: Thank you!

17 Case Study: Greensboro, NC Messaging Overhaul Objective: Recycling Rebrand Challenges: High contamination Varied socioeconomic groups Problems with existing SS program *image courtesy of City of Greensboro

18 Created survey Printed and sent 90,000 copies via water bill Received responses by: Direct mail Returned with water bill payment Online submissions Compiled data Made program changes *images courtesy of City of Greensboro Process

19 Material Response Percent Percent Correct Grade Cardboard 95.56% 95.56% A Glass Bottles 94.60% 94.60% A Newspaper, Magazines, Catalogs 94.54% 94.54% A Aluminum Cans 93.23% 93.23% A Chipboard (Cereal Boxes, etc) 86.57% 86.57% B Office and School Paper, Junk Mail 80.61% 80.61% C Steel/ Tin Cans 78.61% 78.61% C Milk & Juice Cartons 75.23% 75.23% C Plastics # % 72.73% D Plastics # % 63.59% F Pizza Boxes 59.94% 59.94% F Aluminum Foil & Pie Pans 52.93% 52.93% F Aerosol Cans (empty) 45.41% 45.41% F Plastic Bags 26.11% 73.89% D Paper Towels, Tissues 25.02% 74.98% C Styrofoam 20.23% 79.77% C Empty Motor Oil Bottles 8.92% 91.08% B Yard Waste 4.39% 95.61% A Tires, Rubber 3.54% 96.46% A Clothes 3.12% 96.88% A Food Waste 1.26% 98.74% A OVERALL 81.00% C

20 Write-In Responses: Plastics I continue to have problems deciding what plastic items are recyclable Maybe send out more info on the exact type of plastics that can be recycled it gets confusing, first it was no yogurt containers, then they were permissible. I read conflicting recycling requirements with regards to plastics #3 and over Styrofoam isn t recyclable, however egg cartons have a recycle symbol? The Coke [incentive program] promotion and my Mother-in-Law confused me about plastics #3-7.

21 Plastic Header All Bottles - Top On note All Containers All Jugs Large Plastic Items NO Items -Bags, Sheets, Styrofoam, Hoses New Guide: Plastics Messaging *image courtesy of City of Greensboro

22 Commodity Terms: Communications with MRFs and Markets Products What are we diverting? Markets Recycling into a useable raw material Communicating WHAT IS IN THE BALE Municipality Trying to divert material Consumer Put in the bin What am I buying? MRF Sorting to market Better Tracking More Understanding More Value

23 Commodity Terms: Room for Improvement? What kind of bale is it, really? Does the Mixed Rigid Bale include bulky? Does 1-7 really mean all plastics? Does 3-7 contain PET or HDPE nonbottle containers? There will always be nuances, but we can do better.

24 Why Use the Commodity Terms? Waste Management recognizes the importance of communicating with one voice - to communities and their residents about what to put in the bin, and with markets about what is being sold. Common terminology helps us achieve that goal. Susan Robinson, Sr Public Affairs Director, Waste Management

25 Bale Specs

26 Better Tracking: Consistent Terms = Consistent Data

27 Better Tracking: Critical Plastics Data Access Studies Bale Audits & MRF Studies

28 Better Tracking: Critical Plastics Data (cont.) Sources for Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Annual Plastic Recycling Reports

29 Find and USE the Terms & Tools Video:

30 Is Plastic Film Public Enemy #1?

31 At the MRF, probably

32 Historical Film Scrap Price 2007-present

33 Retail Collection vs. Curbside Pro: Retail collection keeps material clean, dry, and valuable for end markets Pro: Takes advantage of existing, efficient infrastructure Con: Have to take material elsewhere; easier to put in trash or bin anyway? Pro: Curbside collection is easy for consumers Con: Problematic for MRFs reducing efficiency for ALL commodities Con: Generally too dirty for domestic processing and very expensive to clean. Final- Quality pays; use of existing infrastructure improves efficiency Final- No markets currently to justify extra cost of washing/handling to recycle this material.

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35 WRAP can Help Provide alternative solutions for film and bags- NOT curbside bins/mrfs Maximize material quality- for film and other commodities Protect local environment Support your sustainability goals

36 What is WRAP? Wrap Recycling Action Program (WRAP) Free and Voluntary public education & outreach initiative, led by the Flexible Film Recycling Group (FFRG). Seeks to engage motivated partners nationwide Goal: Double film recycling by 2020 through return to retail and drop off collection and greater commercial access. Objectives: Dramatically increase film recycling by: Forging partnerships with key allies/stakeholders Providing essential educational tools & programs Gather data to improve tools and information

37 US Retail/Drop-offs Locations

38 Who is WRAP? Everyone who touches plastic film or bags from residents through the value chain to end users: Communities State Agencies MRFs Haulers Manufacturers Consumer Product Companies Distributors Processors Resin Manufacturers End Users Motivated Citizens Reclaimers Recyclers Universities

39 How WRAP Helps

40 Success Stories: Milwaukee Improvement in customer knowledge Decrease in perceived obstacles Increase in material collected

41 Success Stories: Vancouver, WA Customers referenced multiple sources of recycling information Small level of contamination Significant increase in material collected

42 Success Stories: Dunn County, WI Rural county Collection: convenience centers and transfer station Increased Access: university and business participation Countywide Outreach: radio, billboard, movie ads, and recycling guide

43 Resources PlasticsMarkets.org Connects Suppliers & Buyers of All Types of Scrap Plastic RecycleYourPlastics.org Plastics Terminology and Other Resources PlasticFilmRecycling.org Educate and Facilitate Film Recycling RecycleMorePlastic.org Resources to Grow Recycling of All Types of Plastic MooreRecycling.com Publications and Recycling Reports PlasticRecycling.org Association of Plastic Recyclers

44 Join Us! Tell us what you re doing, if you plan to use the Terms, or how we can help with plastic film issues.

45 THANK YOU! Questions? Please contact me for more information. Tonya Randell Moore Recycling Associates