Re: [GRRN] Colored PET Market Available Now

John Reindl (reindl@co.dane.wi.us)
Fri, 27 Aug 1999 15:25:55 -0600


Hi Patty -

If I understand it from this last message of yours, your 5 to 6 =A2 a pou=
nd
offer is predicated on Continental PET's 50% premum? What happens
when that premium disappears? (It is my understanding that it is only
guaranteed for a year, and I remember how glass recycling was hurt
when the big glass firms stopped paying their premium a number of
years ago. )

To color sort PET at our local MRF would be very difficult, if not
impossible, as the space under the sorting line is already taken up for
the separation of other materials. I think the MRF would need a
substantial price premium to find it economically justifible to rebuild th=
e
facility or to send mixed color and clear PET to an intermediate
processing facility.

John

> >Hi Patty and Becky -
> >
> >An interesting offer.
> >
> >But, why is the price so low? I was told several times by Continental P=
ET
> >that they would offer a 50% premium for brown PET over the price that t=
he
> >market is paying. Currently, we are getting 10 cents a pound for mixed
> >clear and green PET. So, with a 50% premium, we're looking at getting 1=
5
> >=A2 a pound vs 5-6 =A2 a pound.
> >
> >John Reindl, Recycling Manager
> >Dane County, WI
>
> John, We are buying ALL colors mixed together (green, amber, blue,
> pink....), not just amber. We believe the quantity of amber is still too
> small to sort alone and it is not YET cost effective even with a 50%
> premium. By separating all the colors from the clear, it will increase t=
he
> value of the clear PET (which is 70% to 80% of your PET stream) and
> provide a market for the colors that most markets don't want (translucen=
t
> amber, blue etc... and the solid colors). Here is our spiel (and the
> specs):
>
> Moore Recycling Associates Inc. is interested in purchasing truckload
> quantities of baled colored PET. We have both export and domestic buyers
> ready to accept this material. We will pay $0.06 per pound picked up at
> your facility.
>
> We have attached our specifications for your review. You will find we wa=
nt
> all PET bottles and containers (with a screw top) regardless of color. W=
e
> feel the quantity of colored PET will be growing rapidly in the next yea=
r
> or so. Please give us the opportunity to maximize the value of your PET =
by
> providing you a market for the colored material that the major buyers ar=
e
> not accepting. By separating clear and colored PET, you will increase th=
e
> value of your clear PET and we will provide a market for all the remaini=
ng
> material (green, amber, blue etc=8A both opaque and translucent
> colors=8Bplease review the attached specifications).
>
> Moore Recycling Associates Inc. is a consulting and management firm that
> has been in business for 10 years. We have worked extensively with the
> plastic, soft drink and packaging industries. We authored the book "How =
to
> Implement a Plastics Recycling Program" published by the Council for Sol=
id
> Waste Solutions and conducted workshops throughout the country entitled
> "Plastics Recycling=8BWhat Works and What Doesn=B9t". Currently, we are
> managing the Plastics Recycling Corporation of California (PRCC). PRCC
> buys and sells over 100 million pounds of PET annually. In addition, Moo=
re
> Recycling is the NE Regional Technical Consultant for the American
> Plastics Council (APC). If you would like trade references, please call
> and ask (in CA 707/935-3390 or in ME 207/824-3260), we are happy to
> provide them.
>
> Give us a call, we look forward to working with you!
>
>
> POST-CONSUMER COLORED PET BALE SPECIFICATIONS
>
> ACCEPTABLE MATERIALS
> Any whole colored (not clear) polyethylene terephthalate (PET) carbonate=
d
> beverage bottle, custom bottle or container with a screw-neck top that
> does not have a built-in handle and containing the Society of the Plasti=
cs
> Industry=B9s "#1" PET or PETE resin identification code that is generate=
d in
> the United States or Canada. All containers should be free of contents,
> and free flowing liquids. They should be rinsed and have closures (caps
> and lids) removed.
>
> ALLOWABLE LEVELS OF CONTAMINANTS
> The total maximum level of contamination shall not exceed 4% by weight N=
o
> more than 2% by weight of any of the following individual contaminants
> will be allowed:
> HDPE Rigid Plastic Containers (#2)
> LDPE Rigid Plastic Containers (#4)
> PP Rigid Plastic Containers (#5)
> Aluminum
> Tin Food Cans or Beverage Containers
> Paper/Cardboard
>
> No more than 1% by weight of PVC (#3) plastic will be allowed including
> bottles, containers, tamper proof seals, cap liners and labels.
>
> PROHIBITED CONTAMINANTS
> The following contaminants are not allowed at any level and should never
> be included:
> Plastic Microwave Trays, Dishes, Bakery Trays, Covers, Deli Containers,
> Drink Cups, and Clamshells PS (#6) Plastic- Rigid and Foam Plastic Bags
> and Plastic Film Wood Glass Motor Oils and Grease Rocks, Stones, Mud,
> Dirt Medical and Hazardous Waste
>
> In addition, any plastic container that previously contained any hazardo=
us
> or potentially hazardous material, including but not limited to
> agricultural products, pesticides, herbicides, automotive fluids, medica=
l
> products (drugs, IV solutions, syringes/hypodermic needles), flammable,
> corrosive or reactive liquids, grease and solvents are expressly
> prohibited. This condition applies even if the aforementioned material w=
as
> not the original contents of the container. (Suppliers must declare that
> the bales they supply do not contain the above-prohibited materials).
>
> BALE SIZE: Prefer 42"X30"X48" or 48"X30"X60"
>
> BALE DENSITY: 15-20 lbs/ft3
>
> BALE WIRE: Bales should be held together with 10-12 gauge, non-corrosive
> galvanized metal wire, with all bale wires wrapped in one direction. A
> minimum number of bale wires should be used that maintains bale integrit=
y.
> This number will vary with bale size.
>
> BALE INTEGRITY: Bale integrity should be maintained throughout loading,
> shipping, unloading and storage.
>
> MINIMUM SHIPPING WEIGHT: 38,000 lbs.

reindl@co.dane.wi.us
(608)267-1533 - fax
(608)267-8815 - phone