New PLASTICS Project Finds New Value in Recycled Plastic Bags and WrapsPosted by leyiplastic on July 31st, 2018 The findings of the report suggest there are further opportunities to extract value from these streams of mixed polyethylene (PE) films—like plastic bedside bags and wraps—that can be recycled efficiently, cost effectively, and used in numerous applications. The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS, Washington, DC) released the Phase I Technology Package and Literature Review from its New End Market Opportunities (NEMO) for film recycling demonstration project. The findings of the report suggest there are further opportunities to extract value from these streams of mixed polyethylene (PE) films—like zip lock bag and wraps—that can be recycled efficiently, cost effectively and used in numerous applications. “To combat environmental challenges like marine debris, PLASTICS is working to make sure that all plastic materials are put to their highest and best use, and that it’s always a better use of resources to recycle a product than to landfill it,” says PLASTICS’ President and CEO William Carteaux. “The NEMO project is just one of those efforts, and the results of its first phase suggest untapped opportunities exist for using these blended materials of recycled plastic bags, wraps and films.” Launched by PLASTICS in 2017, the NEMO for Film project is a formal demonstration that aims to better understand different feed streams of PE films, improve the economics of recycling and explore new potential end markets in the U.S. During phase I the project, PLASTICS’ NEMO for Film workgroup: Secured various return-to-retail samples of zipper bags for food and wraps to determine the range of contamination and explored the degree of additional processing—like washing and drying—that would be required to make the samples viable for recycling and reuse. Based on phase I findings, the NEMO for Film workgroup determined that sufficient evidence suggests the high quality of the return-to-retail material warrants further exploration and development. Phase II and III are already underway, focusing on testing direct application in end markets like agriculture, industrial film and rotomolding. Like it? Share it!More by this author |