Nonmetallics

That is the concern expressed in a recent report from the Plastic Redesign Project, led by Peter Anderson, Madison, Wisc. The organization says it represents the interests of state and local recycling officials.

"The introduction of non-PET material may represent a difficult-to-remove contaminant that could adversely affect recycling," says the report.

Singled out are amber plastic beer bottles now being used by major American breweries. "There may be increases in costs and a deterioration in revenues due to the problems separating and marketing amber bottles unless designers engineer around that problem."

Two issues come into play:

•Sorting the amber bottles and finding a suitable market

•And whether the addition of a barrier material to clear beverage bottles downgrades clear PET flake as a commodity.

The report states that there are currently no markets for amber PET bottles beyond "low-end black dyed applications that pay less than today’s markets" for recycled PET containers.

Concerning clear bottles with barriers, the nylon material being used by some manufacturers may cause a yellowing of recycled plastic flake that would not be acceptable for higher end markets, according to the report.

This contamination could come at a bad time, since Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, has recently committed to using 10 percent recycled content PET by 2005, "if uncontaminated, bottle-quality supplies of recycled PET can be maintained."

The full 75-page report from the Plastic Redesign Project can be ordered via www.packstrat.com or by contacting Packaging Strategies publications at (800) 524-7225.

Scrap Plastics Directory Available

A directory of North American plastics reclaimers is now available to recyclers and scrap plastic generators.

The 2002 Scrap Plastics Market Directory is being offered by Resource Recycling Inc., Portland, Ore.

The directory features listings for more than 300 companies in North America. Listings including information on which resin types the company handles and in which format the company purchases its scrap (granulated, flaked or shredded).

More information on the 2002 Scrap Plastics Markets Directory can be obtained from Resource Recycling at its Web site, www.resource-recycling.com.