Can I Recycle Pallet Stretch Wrap?

 

If you've been wondering whether pallet stretch wrap can be recycled, the answer is yes! Pallet wrap is made from LDPE, or low-density polyethylene, which is a type of plastic that is recyclable under the right conditions. However, before you toss it into your recycling bin, it's important to understand the best way to recycle LDPE plastic and the challenges associated with it.

 

What is LDPE?

LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) is a type of plastic commonly used in pallet stretch wrap. It's a flexible plastic often found in products like shopping bags, flexible bottles, and dry cleaning bags. LDPE is classified as type 4 plastic, which can be recycled in many places—though there are some important guidelines to follow.

LLDPE refers to Linier low density polyethylene, it is also regarded as Type 4 plastic, however most “consumer” style recycling by councils don’t take LDPE.

How to Recycle LDPE

If your local recycling program accepts LDPE, you can easily recycle your pallet stretch wrap by following these simple steps:

1. Remove Contaminants: Make sure that your pallet wrap is free from food scraps or receipts. Contaminants can disrupt the recycling process.
2. Scrunch the Plastic: LDPE is often thin and flexible, so scrunch it up into a ball. This makes it easier to handle during recycling.
3. Put it in a Bag: Since LDPE is often thin and can get tangled, it's best to place it in a bag to avoid it clogging up recycling machinery.
4. Take It to a Drop-Off Center: Check with your local recycling facility or curbside program to find out where you can drop off LDPE materials.

If you're in Victoria you can check the vic councils site to check your council. 

Note that recycling of LLDPE, will be more difficult,  its highly unlikely any council will accept LLDPE stretchwrap. But fret not, MPS has a program to recycle LLDPE pallet stretchwrap. The requirements are simple.

•   Remove all contaminants, this consists of tape, paper, labels, dirt or other materials, so only the LDPE stretch wrap itself remains. Other plastic materials such as PET or PP cant be mixed.
• Bail it, stuffing it in a bag or hand squashing it down isn’t enough, bails must be machine pressed.
• Deliver the plastic at your cost to our recycling centre in Dandenong.

What if Your Local Recycling Program Doesn't Accept LDPE?

If your local recycling program doesn’t accept LDPE, there are a few other options:

1. Reuse the Plastic: Many people reuse pallet wrap for storage, packing, or other purposes around the home or business. This can help extend the life of the material and reduce waste.
2. Specialist Recycling Centres: Some areas have specialized recycling centres that accept LDPE. Check with local waste management companies or specialist recyclers to find out if this option is available.
3. Dispose of It Properly: If you can't reuse or recycle the wrap, it may need to go into your general waste. While not ideal, this ensures it doesn't end up littering the environment.

Why Isn’t All LDPE Recycled?

There are a few reasons why LDPE, especially in the form of plastic film (like pallet stretch wrap), isn’t always accepted in recycling programs:

• Clogging Recycling Machinery: LDPE film is thin and flexible, making it difficult to process in standard recycling equipment. If it's not handled correctly, it can clog the machinery, which is why many programs don't accept it.
• Local Council Policies: Not all local councils have the infrastructure to handle LDPE recycling, and policies can vary widely depending on the region.

Other Ways to Reduce Plastic Waste

While recycling is one way to handle plastic waste, it's always a good idea to reduce your overall consumption of plastic pallet wrap. Here are a few other tips to minimize waste:

·         Down gauge film to thinner but stronger pallet wrapping film, reducing the amount of stretchwrap you wrap per pallet

·         Invest in a powered prestretch pallet wrapper, these type of machines use atleast 30% less film than a conventional pallet wrapper.

Why Recycling Plastic is More Sustainable Than Composting

Plastic waste poses a significant environmental challenge due to its durability and slow decomposition rates. While composting is an effective method for organic waste, recycling offers a more sustainable solution for plastics. Here's why recycling is preferable to composting when it comes to plastic waste management.

The Challenges of Composting Plastics

Composting is designed for organic materials that decompose into nutrient-rich soil additives. However, plastics, especially those not labelled as compostable, do not break down in composting environments. Instead, they persist, potentially contaminating the compost and harming soil health. For instance, compostable plastics are not intended for recycling and can disrupt the recycling stream if intermixed with petroleum-based plastics.

The Advantages of Recycling Plastics

1. Material Reuse: Recycling transforms used plastics into new products, conserving natural resources and reducing the need for virgin materials. This process forms a closed-loop system, where materials are continually reused, minimizing waste and the demand for new resources.
2. Energy Conservation: Manufacturing products from recycled plastics typically requires less energy compared to producing items from raw materials. This reduction in energy consumption leads to lower greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation.
3. Landfill Diversion: Recycling diverts plastics from landfills, where they can take centuries to decompose, reducing the burden on waste management systems and decreasing the environmental impact associated with landfill use.
4. Economic Benefits: The recycling industry creates jobs and stimulates economic growth. By investing in recycling infrastructure, communities can foster local economies and promote sustainable development.

The Environmental Impact of Landfilling Plastics

When plastics are not recycled and instead end up in landfills, they can take hundreds to thousands of years to decompose. During this prolonged period, they can leach harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Additionally, the decomposition of organic waste in landfills produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Proper recycling of plastics helps mitigate these environmental hazards by reducing the volume of waste and the associated methane emissions.

Understanding Plastic Recycling: Mechanical vs. Chemical Processes

Recycling is a crucial strategy to mitigate this issue, and it primarily involves two methods: mechanical recycling and chemical recycling. Each method has its unique processes, advantages, and limitations.

Mechanical Recycling

Mechanical recycling is the most common and straightforward method for recycling plastics. It involves physically processing plastic waste without altering its chemical structure. The typical steps include:

1. Collection and Sorting: Plastic waste is collected and sorted based on type and colour.
2. Cleaning: The sorted plastics are cleaned to remove contaminants such as labels, adhesives, and food residues.
3. Shredding: Cleaned plastics are shredded into small flakes or pellets.
4. Melting and Reformation: The shredded plastic is melted and reformed into new products, such as containers, textiles, or construction materials.

Advantages:

• Energy Efficiency: Mechanical recycling generally requires less energy compared to chemical recycling.
• Cost-Effectiveness: The process is relatively simple and less expensive to implement.

Limitations:

• Material Degradation: Repeated mechanical recycling can lead to the degradation of polymer chains, resulting in reduced material quality over time.
• Contamination Issues: The presence of different plastic types or contaminants can complicate the recycling process and affect the quality of recycled products.

Chemical Recycling

Chemical recycling, also known as advanced recycling, involves breaking down plastic polymers into their monomers or other valuable chemicals through chemical processes. The primary types include:

1. Pyrolysis: This process heats plastic waste in the absence of oxygen, breaking down complex polymers into simpler hydrocarbons, which can be used as fuels or converted back into new plastics.
2. Gasification: Plastic waste is converted into syngas (a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide) at high temperatures, which can then be used to produce electricity or as a feedstock for chemical production.
3. Solvolysis: This method uses solvents to break down plastics into their monomers or other chemicals, which can be purified and reused.

Advantages:

• High-Quality Output: Chemical recycling can produce high-quality monomers, allowing for the creation of new plastics with properties similar to virgin materials.
• Diverse Feedstock: It can handle a wide range of plastic types, including those that are difficult to recycle mechanically.

Limitations:

• Energy Intensive: Chemical recycling processes often require significant energy inputs, which can impact their overall environmental benefits.
• Economic Viability: The high costs associated with chemical recycling technologies can make them less economically competitive compared to traditional recycling methods.

Complementary Roles in Waste Management

While mechanical and chemical recycling have distinct processes and benefits, they are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they can complement each other in a comprehensive waste management strategy. Mechanical recycling is suitable for high-quality, uncontaminated plastics, whereas chemical recycling can handle mixed or contaminated plastics that are challenging to process mechanically. Integrating both methods can enhance recycling rates and material recovery, contributing to a more sustainable circular economy

Summery

By adopting MPS Packaging’s recycling program, businesses can reduce their environmental footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future. Not only does recycling help keep plastics out of landfills, but it also ensures that materials are reused in the most efficient way possible—far superior to relying on biodegradable plastics that don’t always live up to their promises.

Making the switch to recycling and committing to better waste management practices is a crucial step in the fight against plastic pollution. With MPS Packaging’s support, businesses can take the lead in reducing waste, conserving resources, and protecting the environment for future generations.