Getting the most from your sale of plastic scrap means:
1. Getting the best price possible at the time of sale and
2. Maintaining these prices after the sale by avoiding claims from your scrap buyer.
We have assembled a few simple suggestions which we feel will help you to achieve higher selling prices for your scrap and help to protect you from claims after the sale.
- Avoid cross contamination of resins at the press by adopting procedures to always keep the different resin types & grades that you use separate. Cross contamination of resins is the most prevalent problem encountered in post industrial plastic recycling.
- Provide individual, clearly marked containers for each resin type. Maintain separate and clearly marked containers for trash & other non recyclable materials.
- Avoid cross contamination of resins during grinding by either using dedicated grinders for each resin type or institute procedures to assure that all grinders are completely dismantled and each component wiped clean during material changeovers.
- Avoid mixing filled & unfilled versions of the same generic resin type together. Unfilled versions of a resin are usually more valuable than filled versions.
- Avoid grinding coated, painted, decorated or materials containing inserts together with pure materials – the purer the material, the better.
- Grind colors separately or at least keep natural & blacks separate from other colors. Try not to mix whites & light colors with blacks. Natural is always worth more than colors. Separated colors may be worth more than mixed colors. Pure black is normally worth more than mixed colors.
- Always use good serviceable packing to avoid claims for losses, repacking & freight. Always use lined gaylords with good covers or drums with liners, covers & rings. Strap or stretch wrap containers on pallets. Make sure that pallets are secure enough to be stacked two or three high.
- Fill all packages completely. Partly filled packages increase shipping expense and are more apt to be damaged during storage & transit. If you must ship a partial, mark it clearly “Partial Carton – Top Load !” This should keep it from getting crushed in transit by having had a full carton loaded on top of it.
- Label all packages clearly to avoid any confusion as to their contents. Make labels as specific as possible eg. a label reading “Black M90 Acetal Regrind” is a lot better than one reading “Black Acetal”.
- When you list your material for sale be as specific as possible. Describe quantities, colors, resin & grade types with as much detail as possible – “10,000 lbs, of Reground Black Dupont ST801 Nylon 66” will fetch a higher offer price than “Nylon Regrind 10,000 lbs”.
- When you ship your plastic scrap, number all packages and generate a detailed packing list & invoice giving individual package weights, numbers & types of packages & individual gross, tare & net weights. This is your proof of what you have shipped.
- After you’ve found the high bidder for your scrap ask for references & check them to be sure that you’ll be dealing with a reputable firm.
Civiera & Silver International, Inc. has specialized in the worldwide buying, selling, & recycling of engineering grade thermoplastics & fluoropolymers for close to a decade. For help with your resin recycling or to find out more about our products & services contact us at:
Call 800-933-6889 or 508-829-7353
Fax 508-829-7727
or Email us for further information.