CARGILL DOW PRESENTS PLA RESEARCH DATA
Preparing for the use of polylactide (PLA) in the manufacturing of bottles, Cargill Dow is following testing guidelines identified in the Arlington, Va.-based Association of Postconsumer Recyclers’ (APR) Champions for Change program to ensure the successful integration of PLA into the U.S. recycling stream.
Derived completely from annually renewable resources, PLA is a nature-based alternative to traditional, petroleum-based plastic materials. Based Dow’s initial research, it has been determined that PLA will have no measurable impact on the existing plastic recycling stream and can be effectively sorted using available detection technology.
"Cargill Dow will continue to work with the appropriate associations and organizations to evaluate the disposal impact of PLA in the United States," Brian Glasbrenner, business development manager PLA bottles, for Cargill Dow, says. "We understand the importance of independent testing and, by working with APR under the guidelines of its Champions for Change program, we are taking the right steps to ensure the successful integration of PLA bottles into the country’s waste management systems."
Cargill Dow has also been working with the Recycle America Alliance, a subsidiary of Waste Management Inc., Houston. Trials in actual recycling facilities have shown that PLA can be collected through normal plastic recycling channels and that the technology exists to efficiently separate PLA from other commonly recycled materials. In addition to its fit with the recycling stream, PLA has been successfully composted in applications where that disposal method is desired and commercial composting infrastructure is in place.
The multiple disposal alternatives of PLA means that it can play a key role in landfill diversion. PLA has shown favorable properties for use where incineration is the preferred waste disposal method. In addition, PLA may offer the potential landfill diversion option of being chemically recycled.
ITEC RECEIVES LOW-INTEREST LOAN
Itec Environmental Group Inc., Oakdale, Calif., has received approval for a $2 million low-interest loan from the California Integrated Waste Management Board through the Recycle Market Development Zone Loan Program.
"We worked with the CIWMB for some time on this project. We are extremely pleased with the board’s approval of the loan and consider the fact that this loan was approved after a prior $256,000 research grant from the CIWMB to develop the ECO2 Environmental System to be an exciting development," Gary De Laurentiis, president of Itec, says.
Laurentiis says that during the past 18 months, Itec has been testing its Eco2 System technology, which uses a environmental friendly co-solvent and carbon dioxide to clean post-consumer plastics, removing dirt, labels, glue and contaminants from the plastics.
"The test results proved that this state-of-the-art Eco2 System will produce a finished, odor-free product for 30 percent less than other systems," he says.
At full capacity, Itec believes the plant will produce roughly 6,000 pounds per hour of post-consumer PET beverage containers and HDPE used oil containers, employing approximately 48 production personnel.
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