Plastics & Polymer Engineering Handbooks

Pt. I Mixed Plastics Recycling--Characterization, Collection, Costs, Markets
Summary 3
1 Introduction 7
1.1 National Production and Recycling Levels of Plastics 11
1.2 Plastics in Municipal Solid Waste 15
1.3 Mixed Plastics in Post-Consumer Recycling 17
2 Characterization, Generation and Collection of Plastics 19
2.1 Field Assessment of Plastic Types in Municipal Solid Waste 19
2.2 Mixed Plastics in Recycling Programs 23
New Jersey 23
Hennepin County, Minnesota 26
Walnut Creek, California 29
Akron, Ohio 29
Ontario, Canada 30
Seattle, Washington 30
PS Collection Data 30
2.3 Per Capita Generation 31
2.4 Commercial and Food Sector Sources of Waste Plastic 39
2.5 Post-Consumer Plastic Weights 42
2.6 Summary 42
3 Plastics Recycling Programs 44
3.1 Curbside Collection of Plastics in Illinois 44
3.2 Film/Rigid Plastics Recycling 44
4 Recycling Costs 51
4.1 Recycling Program Variables 51
4.2 Recycling Costs 52
Madison, Wisconsin Recycling Cost Estimate 52
Minneapolis, Minnesota Plastic Recycling Cost Estimate 55
Other Recycling Cost Estimates 58
4.3 Collection Times 58
4.4 Recycling Truck Costs and Truck Collection Methods for Plastics 61
4.5 Process Cost 62
4.6 Cost Estimate Computer Programs 63
Eastman Chemical 63
Wasteplan 65
Least-Cost Scheduling 65
5 Markets and Packaging Changes for Recycled Plastics 70
5.1 Recycled Resin Demand 70
5.2 Packaging Changes to Increase Recycle Rates 72
5.3 Markets in Primary Recycling 74
5.4 Markets in Secondary Recycling 75
Appendix A: Recycling Vehicle Equipment Manufacturers 78
Appendix B: Glossary 80
References 83
Pt. II Recycling Technology
Summary 89
1 Introduction 94
1.1 Plastics in Municipal Solid Waste 94
1.2 Plastic Resin Production and Product Manufacture 96
Resin Manufacture 96
Additives 100
Product Manufacture 100
Extrusion Molding 102
Blow Molding 103
Injection Molding 106
Film Manufacture 107
Melt Flow Indexes 107
2 Manufacture of Plastic Lumber Using Mixed Plastics 110
2.1 Plastic Wood Producers 111
2.2 Plastic Wood Production 111
2.3 General Guidelines for Plastic Lumber Manufacturing 115
2.4 Products from Mixed Plastic Lumber 116
2.5 Enhancement of Plastic Wood Properties 116
2.6 Wood Fiber-Resin Composite Lumber 119
2.7 Future of Mixed Plastic Lumber 119
3 Emerging Methods for Processing and Separation of Plastics 120
3.1 Optical Color Sorting of Glass and PET Containers 120
3.2 Separation of PVC Bottles from Other Plastic Containers 126
3.3 Separation of HDPE Base Cups from PET Beverage Bottles 130
3.4 Separation Using Selective Dissolution 134
3.5 Separation Using Soluble Acrylic Polymers 141
3.6 Initial Activities in Polyurethane Recycling 142
3.7 Initial Activities in Automotive Plastics Recycling 142
Identification of Plastic Auto Parts 142
Solvent Dissolution of Plastic Auto Shredder Residue 143
Pyrolyzing of Auto Thermosets 144
3.8 Sources of Plastic Recycling Information and Plastic Recycling Systems 144
4 Buyers and Specifications for Waste Plastics 145
4.1 Buyers of Waste Plastic 145
4.2 Specifications for Waste Plastic 147
Appendix A: Plastic Scrap Handlers and Brokers 151
Appendix B: Sources of Information on Plastics Recycling 185
Appendix C: Manufacturers of Plastic Recycling Equipment 191
Appendix D: Glossary 200
References 205