Single standard for US plastic bales

United States – The US Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) have announced the publication of joint plastic model bale specifications ‘to provide clarity and uniformity within the industry’.

The new specifications cover bulky rigids, tubs and lids with bulky, as well as tubs and lids without bulky. According to the two organisations, each will publish the model specifications individually but these will be based on the same description to ‘avoid competing standards’ that may otherwise force the industry to choose between the two or disregard them altogether.

According to ISRI president Robin Wiener, the new specifications were established by the Plastic Scrap Specification Taskforce formed together with APR. ‘Recognising a need within the industry, the joint taskforce first sought to develop collective specifications for more popular grades, and now will work in co-operation to issue specifications for additional grades,’ she states.

Common tongue

The creation of uniform specifications means everyone in the plastics recycling industry ‘can speak the same language’, Wiener adds, going on to express confidence that this ‘first of its kind’ effort will better set the parameters for agreements between buyers and sellers.

‘The goal of APR is to secure more good material that is available for reclamation,’ adds Tom Busard, chairman of APR and vice president of Plastipak Corporation. ‘We have had industry bale specifications for many years. By working with the scrap industry, we hope to identify and capture more plastic packaging that may not have been separated and made available for recycling.’

To download the new specifications, visit: www.bit.ly/181AaPQ