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The basic design for
recyclability guideline to consider when making material choices
for any attachment to the bottle is to consider their general
compatibility with the base resin (PVC) or the removal efficiency
in conventional water-based separation systems that separate
plastics by density. These attachments may include closures,
closure liners, base cups, inserts, labels, pour spouts, handles,
sleeves, safety seals, coatings and layers. PVC has a density
greater than 1.0 and will sink in these systems. For efficient
separation and removal in conventional sink/float separation
systems, attachments should be made from materials with a
density less than 1.0 or be otherwise compatible with PVC
in the reclamation process. Materials with a density less
than 1.0 will float in these systems and can be easily separated
from the PVC. (Density
range of key plastic materials.)
The use of PET attachments of any kind on PVC bottles is undesirable
and should be scrupulously avoided. Very small amounts of PET
(in the parts-per-million range) can severely contaminate and
render large amounts of PVC useless for most recycling applications.
In addition, PET is very difficult to separate from PVC in conventional
water-based density separation systems, due to similar densities
(greater than 1.0) that cause them both to sink in these systems.
Plastic closures made from HDPE, LDPE or PP are preferred to
all others. Closure systems that contain no liners and leave
no residual rings or attachments when removed from the bottle
are also preferred. The use of PET for closures or closure liners
is undesirable and should be scrupulously avoided. The use of
metal closures is undesirable and should be avoided as they
are more difficult and more costly to remove in conventional
reclamation systems compared to the preferred closure systems
(HDPE, LDPE or PP).
If tamper-resistance is required in specific product applications,
it should be an integral design feature of the bottle. The use
of tamper-resistant or tamper-evident sleeves or seals is discouraged
as they can act as contaminants if they do not completely detach
from the bottle, or are not easily removed in conventional separation
systems. If sleeves or safety seals are used, they should be
designed to completely detach from the bottle. Shrink sleeves
are preferred when sleeves are necessary.
PP, OPP, HDPE, MDPE, LDPE, LLDPE, or PVC label stock is preferred
to all other label materials. The preferred label systems are
those that incorporate the label on the closure, followed by
shrink sleeve labels that require no adhesive. Metallized labels
increase contamination and separation costs and should be avoided.
The use of PET labels is undesirable and should be scrupulously
avoided.
Inks must be chosen that do not bleed color when agitated in
hot water as they can discolor the PVC regrind during the reclamation
process diminishing or eliminating its value for recycling.
The use of inks that bleed should be scrupulously avoided. (The
APR has developed a testing protocol to assist label manufacturers
in evaluating whether a label ink will bleed in conventional
PVC reclamation systems.) Label adhesives should be water-soluble
or dispersible at temperatures between 140°F and 180°F
in order to be removed in conventional washing and separation
systems. If adhesives are not removed efficiently, they may
disperse on the PVC regrind and embed unwanted contaminants.
The use of other adhesive types is discouraged and should
be avoided. (The APR has developed a testing protocol for
adhesive manufacturers to evaluate the impact of adhesive
products in conventional reclamation systems.) Adhesive usage
and surface area covered should be minimized to the greatest
extent possible to maximize PVC yield and avoid contamination.
Presently, all direct printing other than date coding, either
for product labeling or decoration, contaminates recycled PVC
in conventional reclamation systems. The inks used in direct
printing may bleed ink or otherwise discolor the PVC during
processing, or introduce incompatible contaminants. In either
case, the value of the PVC for recycling is diminished or eliminated.
While unpigmented, homopolymer HDPE bottles generally do not
use a multi-layer construction, it is possible that future bottle
designs might require the use of layers for specific product
applications. The use of layers made from materials other than
unpigmented, homopolymer HDPE is undesirable and should be avoided,
unless they are compatible with or easily separable from HDPE
in conventional recycling systems. If layers must be used, their
content should be minimized to the greatest extent possible
to maximize HDPE yield and reduce potential contamination and
separation costs. (The APR’s Champions for Change Cooperative
Testing Program invites consumer product manufacturers and plastic
bottle and bottle component manufacturers to work with APR member
companies to determine whether new modifications to a regularly
recycled plastic bottle will impact conventional recycling systems
prior to introducing the modification.)
The use of any other attachments is discouraged, as they reduce
base resin yield and increase separation costs. If any other
attachments to a bottle are used, they should be made from HDPE
or clear PVC. If adhesives are used to affix attachments, they
should be water-soluble or dispersible at temperatures between
140°F and 180°F in order to be removed in conventional
washing and separation systems. If adhesives are not removed
efficiently, they may disperse on the PVC regrind and embed
unwanted contaminants. The use of other adhesive types is discouraged
and should be avoided. (The APR has developed a testing protocol
for adhesive manufacturers to evaluate the impact of adhesive
products in conventional reclamation systems.) Adhesive usage
and surface area covered should be minimized to the greatest
extent possible to maximize PVC yield and avoid contamination.
The use of post-consumer HDPE in bottles is encouraged, whenever
possible. |
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