 | Stephanie Baker |
Location
Troy, AL, United States
Role
RecyclerCorporate Info
 | Job TitleDir of Market DevelopmentCompanyKW Plastics Recycling |
Profile
Stephanie C. Baker
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Stephanie works for KW Plastics, the world’s largest recycler of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polypropylene (PP). She is responsible for Market Development and PP Procurement for KW Plastics Recycling Division.
Stephanie’s role includes being the sustainability spokesperson for KW Plastics and offering education on the recyclability of plastic package design and its affect in the existing waste streams. She specializes in closed loop recycling systems, working most recently with the packaging and paint & coatings industry. Stephanie is very interested in bridging the gap between the green initiative trend and recycling as a sustainable solution.
In addition to participating on the Sustainability Advisory Board for the GreenerPackage.com, Stephanie serves on the Board of Directors for the Southeast Recycling Development Council (SERDC), the Alabama Recycling Coalition and is a member of the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers.
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List of PCR blow molders
Thank you for your question and interest in using a post-consumer resin package. The following is a list of blow molders who have experience using HDPE PCR with great success for applications such as described: ALPLA Consolidated Container Lee Container Madras Packaging Matrix Packaging M&H Plastics Mergon Plastics Monarch Plastics Nova Pak Plastic Container Corporation Pretium Packaging Silgan Plastics Zoto International Good Luck!
Recyclability not a factor in ID Codes
Great question and one that comes up often. Unfortunately, the SPI resin codes found on the bottom of plastic containers have nothing to do with the recyclability of the package, at least there was never an intention for them to. The ID codes are used to simply identify the material that was used in the manufacturing of the package. I often like to say that the ID codes tell the history of the package, not the future. As recycling became more mainstream, recycling coordinators often educated their public to look at the numbers when selecting what could be included in their bin "1s and 2s only". Today, more programs are referring to bottle shape and the size of the mouth of the container rather than relying simply on numbers. As a recycler, we have found there to be multiple contamination issues that result from depending in the resin codes. Possibly a bottle is marked as #5 however there is a nylon or EVOH barrier layer which renders the bottle unrecyclable and actually causes severe contamination issues when extruded within a true polypropylene feedstock. There have been other instances where we have found that materials changed but the molds did not, resulting in an altogether wrong marking. Currently, there is no certification and/or monitoring entity for how the numbers are used. SPI has recognized that their attempt many years ago to simply mark which type of polymer was used in the manufacturing process has now created a problem which even they have spent countless hours discussing at length and yet have the solution. It is definitely a case of having the right intentions and yet utilized for the wrong purpose, beyond their control. I don't believe there is one specific polymer that is easier to recycle. "Easy" may need to be further defined. How is the material handled and size reduced for recycling? How many facilities take this material? How large and/or diverse are the markets? Is the material a commodity? Where are the facilities and markets located? Those are some of the questions that would need to be addressed in order to determine the ease and efficiency for recycling. As for your question regarding the smallest biological footprint I don't believe there is one tried and true answer. It depends largely on what the end product is. I would suggest that whatever your material choice is, using PCR is the only sure way to reduce your footprint. Thank you for your question.
Recycled & Recyclable Materials can help make choice
So often when we examine the "paper v. plastic" conflict or weighing the many other material choices available in an attempt to make a sustainable conversion, the value of recycling is a lost factor. There is a perception that paper products are more environmental because they are not made from petroleum products. Plastic products made from post-consumer resin (PCR) alters the measurement, as would post-consumer paper. When examining the LCA of reprocessed or PCR, the carbon footprint of the recycling process is actually net zero in comparision to both virgin production bio-based materials. An additional lost factor in measuring your material choices is the continued LCA of what happens to the package after leaving the store shelf. In many retail measurement methods, its assumed all packaging is waste and therefore the smaller & more compact the package, its more sustainable because it takes us less room in the landfill (and on trucks, shelves, etc). Once again, if the recyclability of the package design were measured with conventional recycling practices, it may affect your material choice. Recyclers have the task of dealing with what comes through the recycling streams (meaning what package design dictates) and producing a quality product that meets materials managers specifications and expectations. I would encourage anyone debating material choices to consider 1) if quality recycled content is available in the material(s), 2) will the material be accepted into conventional recycling programs and 3) what elements of design (including security, aesthetics, etc.) will alter the material and what, if any affects, that will have on the recyclability of the package. Each recyclable commodity has a trade organization that can give package designers and material managers this information. For plastics, I would recommend the Association of Postconsumer Plastics Recyclers and their published guidelines, Design for Recyclability.