query on the reserach on degradable plastics in recycled plastic products
Blair Pollock
Hello all:
While I am aware of the positions of recycled plastics mfrs and their representatives, such as APR, opposing the use of biodegradable or degradable or compostable plastics that might end up in their products, I am not aware of any basic technical research or product research that backs or refutes their claims that these additives may be undesirable in the finished products based on performance. Or any research to the contrary that might show that the additives or the bottles/containers themselves are not actually detrimental in the production of plastic products with recycled content.
I am involved in a policy discussion about these issues and would appreciate knowing of any technical research on the matters related to what
happens when the degradable plastics are incorporated into the mixes for recycled plastics.
Thus, as an additional matter, while I have the SERDC position on degradable plastics and am aware of APR’s I’d be interested in the position statements of other groups on these plastics.
Thanks
Blair L. Pollock
Solid Waste Planner
Orange County Solid Waste Management
(919) 968-2800x 206 (direct)
(919) 932-2900 (fax)
Caps OK on plastic bottles -- empty, flatten and replace cap.
Recycle newspaper bags, tissue overwrap and other clean, dry #2 and #4 plastic film with grocery bags.
Jewell, Rebecca
To add to this question, I’d like to hear if anyone knows how much of this material is in the recycling stream. I’ve asked before with no response. Maybe someone here knows of research.
Thanks
Rebecca
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Blair Pollock
Thank you Jerry for your wise addition to this discussion! Our own eminence grise!
One could posit that there are two problems: one w/ PLA potentially going into PET stream and thus argue that PLA should not be used for bottles that could be mistaken for PET in a sorting process, etc. What’s the point of the PLA bottle? There are legit uses for PLA, I don’t see bottles as one.
The other [big one?] is the OXO additive issue. I am glad that that the plastics conference will take this up. If you already have access to the research that shows the problem w/ OXO additives is truly the problem that APR and others assert, I’d love to see it.
Blair L. Pollock
Solid Waste Planner
Orange County Solid Waste Management
(919) 968-2800x 206 (direct)
(919) 932-2900 (fax)
Caps OK on plastic bottles -- empty, flatten and replace cap.
Recycle newspaper bags, tissue overwrap and other clean, dry #2 and #4 plastic film with grocery bags.
From: Jerry Powell [mailto:jpo...@resource-recycling.com]
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2012 9:12 AM
To: Jewell, Rebecca; Blair Pollock; Gree...@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: [GreenYes] RE: query on the research on degradable plastics in recycled plastic products
Blair’s email makes the same mistake that dominates the discussion, and that is the conflating of terms. We need to parse the discussion to the three types of new plastics. We have plant-based resin, such as used by Coke and Pepsi. This plastic is made from sugar and is exactly the same as oil-derived PET. It is fully recyclable. Then we have biodegradable resins, which are made from corn and other natural materials. Polylactic acid is a biodegradable resin, and substantial research by APR members shows it is not recyclable with PET but is recyclable if kept separate and recycled as PLA. The third resin is oxo-degradable resins, which employ transition metal ions, such as cobalt. When used at a small level in PET, the oxo additive causes the bottle to fall apart when thermally stressed. APR wants oxo-resin makers to provide research evidence that the bottles are recyclable. The head of Symphony Environmental, an oxo-resin maker, will discuss this issue at The Plastics Recycling Conference in March.
Thus, we need to make sure when talking about these new resins to not lump them together analytically. They are very different.
Jerry Powell
Plastics Recycling Update