Impacts of Compostable Plastics on Composting and Recycling

1
Impacts of Compostable Plastics on Composting and
Recycling

• David Cornell
• Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers
  (APR)

2
APRWho we are

• APR is the trade association of 90 of the
  capacity in the plastic bottle recycling
  industry.
• Our members focus on PET and HDPE bottles (96 of
  bottles), but also reclaim LDPE and PP and have
  interests in other resins.

3
APR

• APR promotes Design for Recyclability guidelines
  for container design
• APR has Guidance Documents to evaluate new
  packaging innovations
• APR promotes plastics collection

4
APR Goal

• The primary issue is SUPPLY
• More, good bottles (and film)

5
Recycled PET Uses

• 43 of R-PET used for fiber, typically carpet
• 36 of R-PET used for bottle and film packaging,
  including food contact
• 16 of R-PET used for strapping
• Rest includes engineering resin compounds for
  appliances and auto parts

6
Recycled HDPE Uses

• 43 R-HDPE used for bottles (non-food)
• 23 R-HDPE used for pipe
• 11 R-HDPE used for automotive
• Rest includes lumber, lawn garden,
  crates/pallets/pails and films

7
Compostable Plastics

• Recycled plastics are often used for DURABLE
  applications. Including degradables is often
  forbidden.
• BUT, not every plastic application will be
  recycled.
• SOMETIMES the most efficient solid waste option
  is to compost the plastic with other materials

8
Can We Gather Together?

• Please, Do Not
• Careful planning is necessary to be sure
  compostable plastics do not end up in the
  recycled plastic stream
• Separate Collection, Please

9
Compatible?

• Most plastics are snobs and do not mix well with
  others.
• PVC and PET are incompatible
• PLA and PET are incompatible
• PP and PE are often incompatible
• Mixed plastics are low valued for recycling.
• Should isolate resins for quality and value.

10
What about Degradable Additives?

• If they work, the concept is not helpful to
  durable and food applications next use.
• No way to isolate all bottles suspect
• The potential for negative impact is huge until,
  if possible, no harm is shown. Failures mean
  liabilities, maybe injuries
• Testing must include the service life of recycled
  products
• (25 years for carpet, 9 years for strapping).

11
Degradable PET?

• Recycling rate for PET CRV containers in
  California 62
• Michigan redemption rate 97
• Degradation unnecessary

12
Life Cycle Analysis

• Recycling spreads Inherent Energy and burdens
  over multiple uses.
• Composting loses Inherent Energy after one use.
• LCIs are likely to favor recycling IF recycling
  is practical.

13
PET LCA

• Energy use relates to emissions
• Energy
• Inherent 30 M Joule/kg
• Captured with recycling, lost with composting.
  Partly captured with heat recovery
• Process and transport 40 M Joule/kg
• Lost when polymer made
• 1 use 70, 2 uses 42, 3 uses 33

14
RECYCLING 101

• Success requires four prerequisites
• Enough, good, identifiable raw material
• (300-400 million pounds annually in USA)
• (consistent with tolerable contaminants)
• CRITICAL MASS OF SUPPLY
• Processes to convert raw material to product
• Products of sufficient value to return a profit
• Investment

15
Next in Plastics Recycling

• Today bottles and PE films
• Tomorrow
• Non-bottle rigid packaging
• More flexible films
• Foam packaging and other
• More automobile plastics and carpeting
• More appliance plastics
• More pipe, gutters, siding, cable wrap

16
Thanks