By far, plastics are the most confusing material in any recycling program. At UVM, and in most collection programs nationwide, only plastic jugs and bottles with a #1 and #2 code are acceptable. These #1 & #2 plastic bottles are collected in the "Containers" recycling category, which also includes glass bottles, aluminum, and steel cans. UVM collects an average of 7 tons per month of mixed containers, though only a small fraction (by weight) are plastics.

In the University program, only "narrow-neck" plastic jugs or bottles marked HDPE #2 and PET #1 (e.g., water, milk and detergent bottles) are acceptable. These are "blow molded," meaning the shape is made by blowing air into a mold, similar to blowing air into a balloon. The containers are characterized by a narrow-neck, balloon shaped body, screw top and a seam along the bottom. We cannot accept any tub-shaped plastics such as margarine and yogurt tubs despite their code. These are "injection molded," meaning that the plastic is stamped into a mold. The two processes have different melt temperatures, thus the process is disrupted if the two are mixed together. The biggest contaminants found in UVM's recycling are: plastic cups, straws and utensils; yogurt cups; deli-style containers; plastic caps or lids; and durable plastics. Please DO NOT put these items in the recycle bins.

The plastic bottles collected from UVM are shipped to manufacturers to be granulated, flaked and pelletized to make other products. Typically, the #1 plastic bottles get recycled into polyester fibers for carpet, fleece material, and parka filling. The #2 plastic bottles are turned into durable plastic products such as lumber and the inner linings of new plastic bottles. End markets for other plastics are weak or nonexistent, so other types of plastics are not handled by the recycling facility in Chittenden County, where UVM's materials end up.

For more information about recycling at UVM, please visit http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmppd/solidwaste/ or email questions to recycle@ppvax.uvm.edu.

The strengthening process, known as hot compaction, uses threads of polypropylene that have been stretched out in order to make the long polymer molecules line up in the same direction. This regimented structure gives the hot compacted plastic a strength similar to that of composite materials used in automotive and aerospace applications. The threads of stretched polypropylene are then woven to form a plastic cloth that can be carefully heated and squeezed together to form a rigid sheet. This sheet is then shaped into car body panels.

Plastic is usually reinforced and strengthened using fibres of glass or other materials such as carbon to make composite materials. These make the plastic difficult to form into shape using the process known as thermoforming. The hot compaction process is the first process that allows the finished material to be easily thermoformed into products such as car body parts. Hot compacted plastic is also under trials for loudspeaker cones, automotive parts and radomes for the noses of aircraft.

For further information or a full copy of the article please contact
Andrew McLaughlin on tel: 0171 451 7395; fax: 0171 839 2289 or
email: Andrew_Mclaughlin@materials.org.uk

Wood pallets are still dominant in the market and will be for a while. The intelligence on plastic substitutes is that weight is a factor, repairability is a large factor, and recyclability is a factor.
There are about 20 firms manufacturing plastic pallets from HDPE or mixed plastics.

I haven't come across any imaginative ways in Tokyo to reduce, however, I was surprised once to walk into a supermarket in Shinjuku/Okubo area where they charged you 5 yen per plastic bag you take, or you could bring your own bag... Since I was visiting a friend, I just wanted to buy some sodas to bring over, so I felt overly embarassed being the only person who needed bags... Everyone else brought their own bags and gave me this wierd look... I see that other than pop culture, more ideas from back home are entering Japan... though slowly... :D

1 = PET
2 = High density polyethylene
3 = Vinyl
4 = Low density polyethylene
5 = Polypropylene
6 = Polystyrene
7 = Others, including multi-layer