Getting Started With Recycling Your Industrial Plastic Waste

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Many manufacturers produce a lot of plastic waste in the form of castoffs, rejects, and excess. Even if you don't make plastic items, you may produce plastic waste in the form of containers or material handling supplies. Here are a few ways to get started with recycling your factory or plant's plastic.

Start Sorting Your Plastic Waste

Sorting your plastic is the first step towards recycling it responsibly. Sorting can also help you figure out exactly what your plastic waste consists of. This becomes important if you want to join any programs or work with any company that seeks specific types of plastics. Generally, plastic comes in seven grades:

• Polyethylene – Water bottles and food containers
• High Density Polyethylene – Film and trash bags
• Polyvinyl Chloride – Industrial grade plastic items
• Low Density Polyethylene – Plastic wraps and films
• Polypropylene – Pallet wrapping
• Polystyrene – Styrofoam and packing peanuts
• Engineered plastic – Discs, large water jugs, things made of multiple types of plastic

The examples listed here are only a small part of the types of plastic items you may have. Some crossover also exists. For example, a water bottle isn't always polyethylene. You should take some time to figure out what types of plastic waste you produce.

Collect Plastic Waste at the Source

Where you create plastic waste is where you should collect it. Doing it this way can serve a number of purposes:

• Keeping one type of plastic separated from others
• Adding convenience to the plastic waste collection process
• Helping curtail the need for a more expensive sorting method

If plastic waste is a byproduct of your manufacturing process, then collect it close to the area where it occurs. If you tend to toss plastic items away in a centralized location, make a separate bin for plastic waste of particular types. For example, plastic wrapping from items you use can go into a single bin by itself.

Educate Everyone On How to Dispose of Plastic Waste

Collecting and sorting plastic waste will likely happen on a person-by-person basis. Make sure everyone knows to place plastic waste where it belongs. Don't leave them to guess about it. Clearly mark areas or bins with the types of plastic waste you want to go into them.

In some cases, plastic waste recycling can help your bottom-line as well. Some industrial plastic recycling solutions can help you reduce your plastic usage or find ways to profit from your plastic waste.

Various industrial plastic recycling solutions are out there. Taking advantage of them can help your business do its part for the community and environment. 

9 June 2018