Effective Ways To Recycle Plastic Shrink Wrap

Plastic is a major environmental concern, with plastic waste accumulating in our oceans and causing widespread ecological damage. Soft plastics, such as plastic bags, packaging, and shrink wrap, are often not accepted by city recycling programs due to their tendency to jam machinery. However, shrink wrap is highly recyclable, and businesses that generate large volumes of this waste can benefit from implementing a shrink wrap recycling program. This not only helps keep plastic out of landfills and the ocean but can also provide additional revenue streams for companies. Various companies offer shrink wrap recycling services, and the process typically involves baling the clean, dry, uncontaminated shrink wrap before sending it for recycling.

Plastic shrink wrap is recyclable

However, soft plastics like shrink wrap are often not accepted for recycling by cities, as they can jam machinery at materials recovery facilities. Therefore, businesses that generate a lot of shrink wrap may benefit from having an industrial baler installed on-site. Baled shrink wrap is more valuable than non-baled shrink wrap and will be reimbursed at a higher price.

To ensure that your shrink wrap is properly recycled, it should be clean and dry, and free of contaminants such as tape and packaging labels. If your business generates a small amount of shrink wrap, you may need to accumulate enough material to justify a pick-up by a waste and recycling provider.

There are companies that specialise in plastic packaging recycling and can assist businesses with their shrink wrap recycling needs. These companies can provide services such as stretch film recycling programs, site surveys, and installation of appropriate bailing machines.

It can be recycled by waste and recycling providers

Plastic shrink wrap is a highly recyclable material. However, many cities and counties do not recycle soft plastics, which include shrink wrap, plastic bags, and packaging. This is because they tend to jam machinery at the materials recovery facility, causing slowdowns and breakdowns.

If you are a business owner, you can contact a waste and recycling provider, such as Rubicon, AAA Polymer, or Plastic Expert, to pick up your shrink wrap for recycling. These companies can help you recycle your shrink wrap in an environmentally and economically beneficial way. They can also assist in finding the most suitable recycling solutions for your business.

Before sending shrink wrap for recycling, it is important to ensure that it is not contaminated with tape, packaging labels, or anything else that can reduce the purity of the plastic. It should be clean and dry. If the shrink wrap is of high quality and in large enough quantities, it can be baled up on your premises or picked up by a waste and recycling provider for consolidation and baling at a separate location.

Waste and recycling providers may also offer additional services, such as helping you develop employee engagement materials and literature, as well as providing special documentation for your plastic recycling initiatives. They can also suggest and assist in the installation of appropriate baling machines.

It can be recycled on-site by businesses

Plastic shrink wrap is a highly recyclable material. However, many cities and counties do not recycle soft plastics like shrink wrap due to the risk of jamming machinery at the materials recovery facility. This means that businesses often have to find their own ways to recycle shrink wrap.

If your business generates a large volume of shrink wrap, it may be worth investing in an industrial baler to bale the shrink wrap on-site. Baled shrink wrap is more valuable than non-baled shrink wrap, so you will be reimbursed at a higher price.

To ensure that your shrink wrap is recycled properly, it should be free of contamination from tape, packaging labels, or anything else that could reduce the purity of the plastic. If your business generates a smaller amount of shrink wrap, you may want to work with a waste and recycling provider who can pick up your shrink wrap and consolidate it with shrink wrap from other businesses before baling.

There are companies that can help you implement a stretch film recycling program, which can save your business money and result in a reduced number of container "pulls" from removing stretch film from your waste. These companies can also pay you for your plastic stretch film.

It must be clean and dry

When it comes to recycling plastic shrink wrap, it is important to remember that it must be clean and dry. Wet or food-soiled plastic wrap should not be recycled as it can cause contamination during the recycling process. This contamination can be costly. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that the plastic wrap is cleaned and dried before being dropped off at a recycling centre.

To clean the plastic wrap, remove any food residue or other contaminants. You can use a mild detergent and water to wipe down the plastic or rinse it off under a tap. Make sure to dry the plastic wrap thoroughly after cleaning to prevent the growth of mould or bacteria.

It is also important to keep in mind that the plastic wrap should be free of any other materials that may reduce the purity of the plastic, such as tape or packaging labels. These contaminants can affect the quality of the recycled plastic and may need to be removed during the recycling process, adding complexity and cost.

Once the plastic wrap is clean, dry, and free of contaminants, it can be recycled. Many businesses offer plastic wrap recycling services, and some may even provide a rebate or payment for the recycled material. It is worth exploring options in your area to find a suitable recycling centre or service that aligns with your values and requirements.

By ensuring that the plastic shrink wrap is clean and dry, you are contributing to proper waste management and environmental protection. This simple step can help reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills or our oceans, making a positive impact on the planet.

Recycling it can be profitable

Plastic wrap and film packaging are typically made using #2 and #4 plastic resins, both of which are recyclable. However, soft plastics like shrink wrap are often not accepted by city recycling programs as they tend to jam machinery at the materials recovery facility (MRF). This means that businesses have to find alternative ways to recycle their shrink wrap waste.

Recycling shrink wrap can be profitable for businesses. Firstly, by implementing a stretch film recycling program, businesses can save money on their waste disposal costs. This is because the cost of hauling trash to a disposal site is usually a fixed charge for every time a trash container is picked up. By reducing the number of trash containers needed, a stretch film recycling program can lower these costs.

Additionally, some companies will pay businesses for their plastic waste, allowing them to add additional revenue streams. For example, AAA Polymer offers stretch film recycling services and will pay market value for the recycled plastic. Plastic Expert is another company that buys and recycles shrink wrap from businesses in the UK.

Furthermore, recycling shrink wrap can help manufacturers save costs. The recycled plastic material can be reused in production, and it is more profitable for manufacturers to recycle factory waste in-house than to purchase new plastic. Recycled PE pellets obtained from post-consumer and printed PE shrink films are in high demand by plastic injection molding manufacturers.

Overall, recycling shrink wrap can be profitable for businesses by reducing waste disposal costs, providing additional revenue streams, and lowering manufacturing costs by reusing recycled plastic in production.

Frequently asked questions