Dirty Regrind Specifications

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Ami Pitts
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1 Dirty Regrind Specifications Issue: The quality requirements for PET regrind are far more demanding than for baled PET. And, the allowable levels of contamination in PET regrind are in the parts per million range. The quality of PET regrind is crucial to the efficiency and economics of subsequent PET recycling processing stages. Producing dirty regrind that meets the following specifications will ensure the ability to market granulated PET. Best Practice: The proposed post-consumer PET dirty regrind specifications that follow are not intended to meet any one company s individual specifications, but to represent a standard that will be acceptable to most PET purchasers and ensure a quality standard that can reduce the cost of the PET recycling process. While the proposed specifications may represent a standard which is acceptable to most of the PET recycling industry, every PET processor has specific requirements based on their particular processing system and the end-use application for which the recycled PET is intended. Therefore, suppliers must always determine the exact levels of contamination that a particular purchaser accepts as well as any other unique purchasing specifications they might have. Unlike baled PET bottles, specifications for PET regrind vary by color and by the enduse application for which they are intended. As a general rule of thumb, higher value end-use applications demand higher quality regrind, particularly in regard to PVC contamination. The following PET regrind specifications are broken down into four end-use categories as follows: Packaging, Sheet and Film; Engineered Resins; Strapping; and, Fiber Applications. The following specifications are included in this best practice. Clear PET regrind specifications for packaging, sheet and film applications Green PET regrind specifications for packaging, sheet and film applications Clear PET regrind specifications for engineered resin applications Green PET regrind specifications for engineered resin applications Green PET regrind specifications for strapping applications Clear PET regrind specifications for fiber applications Green PET regrind specifications for fiber applications Page 1 of CWC. All rights reserved. Federal Copyright Laws prohibit reproduction in whole or in part without express permission of CWC.

2 These specifications assume that all other quality and processing Best Practices presented in this document have been followed. The allowable levels of the contaminants listed in the specifications are the only types of contamination that are permitted. If a material does not have a specified level of contamination in a particular end-use category, its presence is not acceptable at any level. Regardless of the particular specification for which you are preparing PET regrind, the following general best practices should be followed: mark or labels boxes of regrind with weight information (gross, tare and net weights) mark or label boxes to trace conditions of manufacture, including information to identify the grinding equipment it was produced with, the operator who produced it, the date it was produced and any other quality data that is available boxes should be packed and shipped in sound corrugated gaylord boxes and on pallets that will maintain their integrity in handling and shipping all boxes should be clean to avoid contamination from previous contents if used corrugated gaylord boxes are used, liners are required all boxes should be capped and strapped with lids Page 2 of 9 NAPCOR American Plastics Council 1997 CWC. All rights reserved. Federal Copyright Laws prohibit reproduction in whole or in part without express permission of CWC.

3 CLEAR PET REGRIND SPECIFICATIONS FOR PACKAGING, SHEET AND FILM APPLICATIONS Acceptable Source Materials: Any CLEAR, whole polyethylene terephthalate (PET) carbonated beverage bottle, or custom bottle or container with a screw-neck top, that does not have a built in handle, contains the Society of the Plastics Industry s #1", PET or PETE resin identification code, and was produced in the United States or Canada. All containers should be rinsed, free of contents or free flowing liquids, and closures (caps and lids) should be removed. Green PET < 100 ppm Amber PET < 100 ppm Blue PET < 100 ppm Black PET ppm ** TOTAL PET COLOR CONTAMINATION SHOULD NOT EXCEED 200 PPM Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Plastic (any form) < 10 ppm Aluminum (other than caps) < 50 ppm HDPE Rigid Plastic Containers < 50 ppm PP Rigid Plastic Containers < 50 ppm Low Melt Plastics (E-PET, PET-G) < 50 ppm ALL SHOULD HAVE A LID OR CAP, AND STRAPPING TO KEEP THE LID IN PLACE Page 3 of 9

4 GREEN PET REGRIND SPECIFICATIONS FOR PACKAGING, SHEET AND FILM APPLICATIONS Acceptable Source Materials: Any GREEN, whole polyethylene terephthalate (PET) carbonated beverage bottle, or custom bottle or container with a screw-neck top, that does not have a built in handle, contains the Society of the Plastics Industry s #1", PET or PETE resin identification code, and was produced in the United States or Canada. All containers should be rinsed, free of contents or free flowing liquids, and closures (caps and lids) should be removed. Clear PET < 10% by weight Amber PET < 100 ppm Blue PET < 100 ppm Black PET ppm ** TOTAL PET COLOR CONTAMINATION SHOULD NOT EXCEED 200 PPM PVC Plastic (any form) < 10 ppm Aluminum (other than caps) < 50 ppm HDPE Rigid Plastic Containers < 50 ppm PP Rigid Plastic Containers < 50 ppm Low Melt Plastics (E-PET, PET-G) < 50 ppm ALL SHOULD HAVE A LID OR CAP, AND STRAPPING TO KEEP THE LID IN PLACE Page 4 of 9

5 CLEAR PET REGRIND SPECIFICATIONS FOR ENGINEERED RESIN APPLICATIONS Acceptable Source Materials: Any CLEAR, whole polyethylene terephthalate (PET) carbonated beverage bottle, or custom bottle or container with a screw-neck top, that does not have a built in handle, contains the Society of the Plastics Industry s #1", PET or PETE resin identification code, and was produced in the United States or Canada. All containers should be rinsed, free of contents or free flowing liquids, and closures (caps and lids) should be removed. Allowable Contaminants Levels Green PET... < 100 ppm Amber PET... < 100 ppm Blue PET... < 100 ppm Black PET... 0 ppm **TOTAL PET COLOR CONTAMINATION SHOULD NOT EXCEED 200 PPM Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (any form)... < 50 ppm Aluminum (other than caps)... < 50 ppm HDPE Rigid Plastic Containers... < 50 ppm PP Rigid Plastic Containers... < 50 ppm Low Melt Plastics (E-PET, PET-G)... < 50 ppm ALL SHOULD HAVE A LID OR CAP, AND STRAPPING TO KEEP THE LID IN PLACE Page 5 of 9

6 GREEN PET REGRIND SPECIFICATIONS FOR ENGINEERED RESIN APPLICATIONS Acceptable Source Materials: Any GREEN, whole polyethylene terephthalate (PET) carbonated beverage bottle, or custom bottle or container with a screw-neck top, that does not have a built in handle, contains the Society of the Plastics Industry s #1", PET or PETE resin identification code, and was produced in the United States or Canada. All containers should be rinsed, free of contents or free flowing liquids, and closures (caps and lids) should be removed. Allowable Levels of Contaminants Clear PET... < 10% by weight Amber PET... < 100 ppm Blue PET... < 100 ppm Black PET... 0 ppm **TOTAL PET COLOR CONTAMINATION SHOULD NOT EXCEED 200 PPM Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (any form)... < 50 ppm Aluminum (other than caps)... < 50 ppm HDPE Rigid Plastic Containers... < 50 ppm PP Rigid Plastic Containers (#5)... < 50 ppm Low Melt Plastics (E-PET, PET-G)... < 50 ppm ALL SHOULD HAVE A LID OR CAP, AND STRAPPING TO KEEP THE LID IN PLACE Page 6 of 9

7 GREEN PET REGRIND SPECIFICATIONS FOR STRAPPING APPLICATIONS Acceptable Source Materials: Any GREEN, whole polyethylene terephthalate (PET) carbonated beverage bottle, or custom bottle or container with a screw-neck top, that does not have a built in handle, contains the Society of the Plastics Industry s #1", PET or PETE resin identification code, and was produced in the United States or Canada. All containers should be rinsed, free of contents or free flowing liquids, and closures (caps and lids) should be removed. Clear PET < 35% by weight Amber PET < 50 ppm Blue PET < 50 ppm Black PET ppm ** TOTAL PET COLOR CONTAMINATION SHOULD NOT EXCEED 50 PPM Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (any form)... < 20 ppm Aluminum (other than caps) < 50 ppm HDPE Rigid Plastic Containers < 50 ppm PP Rigid Plastic Containers < 50 ppm Low Melt Plastics (E-PET, PET-G) < 20 ppm ALL SHOULD HAVE A LID OR CAP, AND STRAPPING TO KEEP THE LID IN PLACE Page 7 of 9

8 CLEAR PET REGRIND SPECIFICATIONS FOR FIBER APPLICATIONS Acceptable Source Materials: Any CLEAR, whole polyethylene terephthalate (PET) carbonated beverage bottle, or custom bottle or container with a screw-neck top, that does not have a built in handle, contains the Society of the Plastics Industry s #1", PET or PETE resin identification code, and was produced in the United States or Canada. All containers should be rinsed, free of contents or free flowing liquids, and closures (caps and lids) should be removed. Acceptable PET containers may be ground with caps, liners, labels, and basecups attached. These materials Green PET < 5,000 ppm Amber PET < 200 ppm Blue PET < 100 ppm Black PET ppm avg; 150 ppm max./box PET Container Contamination (caps, liners, labels, basecups) < 15%, by weight Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (any form) ppm avg; 350 ppm max./box Aluminum (other than caps)... < 50 ppm HDPE Rigid Plastic Containers... < 50 ppm PP Rigid Plastic Containers... < 50 ppm Low Melt Plastics (E-PET, PET-G)... < 50 ppm No visually detectable levels of wood, cardboard, stones or other physical debris. Any plastic container that previously contained any hazardous or potentially hazardous material, including but not limited to agricultural products, pesticides, herbicides, automotive fluids, medical products (drugs, IV solutions, syringes/hypodermic needles), flammable, corrosive or reactive liquids, grease and solvents are expressly prohibited. This rule applies even if the aforementioned material was not the original contents of the container. (Suppliers must designate that the bales they supply do not contain the above ALL SHOULD HAVE A LID OR CAP, AND STRAPPING TO KEEP THE LID IN PLACE Page 8 of 9

9 GREEN PET REGRIND SPECIFICATIONS FOR FIBER APPLICATIONS Acceptable Source Materials: Any GREEN, whole polyethylene terephthalate (PET) carbonated beverage bottle, or custom bottle or container with a screw-neck top, that does not have a built in handle, contains the Society of the Plastics Industry s #1", PET or PETE resin identification code, and was produced in the United States or Canada. All containers should be rinsed, free of contents or free flowing liquids, and closures (caps and lids) should be removed. Acceptable PET containers may be ground with caps, liners, labels, and basecups attached. These materials Clear PET < 20%, by weight Amber PET < 200 ppm Blue PET ppm Black PET ppm avg; 150 ppm max/box PET Container Contamination (caps, liners, labels, basecups) < 15%, by weight Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), any form ppm avg; 350 ppm max/box Aluminum (other than caps) < 50 ppm HDPE Rigid Plastic Containers < 50 ppm PP Rigid Plastic Containers < 50 ppm Low Melt Plastics (E-PET, PET-G) < 50 ppm Any plastic container that previously contained any hazardous or potentially hazardous material, including but not limited to agricultural products, pesticides, herbicides, automotive fluids, medical products (drugs, IV solutions, syringes/hypodermic needles), flammable, corrosive or reactive liquids, grease and solvents are expressly prohibited. This rule applies even if the aforementioned material was not the original contents of the container. (Suppliers must designate that the bales they supply do not contain the above ALL SHOULD HAVE A LID OR CAP, AND STRAPPING TO KEEP THE LID IN PLACE Page 9 of 9

GS1 Canada Stewardship Initiative Implementation Guide

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