How Is HDPE Regrind Made?
HDPE regrind most often takes the form of small flakes of HDPE which are used by manufacturers as raw material in their manufacturing processes. HDPE regrind comes from a wide range of HDPE sources, including post consumer HDPE items (HDPE items that have already been used as packaging and since been discarded), HDPE Barrels, HDPE carrier bags, and HDPE offcuts from other products.
As a material, HDPE is wonderful, because it is so incredibly easy to recycle. HDPE regrind is an excellent and stable material for the production of all manner of goods, including bottles (like shampoo bottles, for instance), pipes, and pallets. HDPE regrind is in fact suitable for most applications, with the exception of packaging for foodstuffs. Although the process by which HDPE is recycled is very strenuous, and great care is taken to remove pollutants, it is still considered unsafe to use recycled HDPE in conjunction with food products.
This article takes you through the steps that scrap HDPE goes through in order to become HDPE regrind.
From the bale to the HDPE grind
HDPE generally comes in bale form. Depending on which sort of HDPE bale has been purchased, product labels may need to be removed, or colors sorted.
Breaking the bale
Once the bale has been taken apart, the HDPE is placed on a device which is known as a trommel. The trommel rotates and helps remove many of the contaminants and dirt that the HDPE has built up through its use thus far. Stones, dirt, pieces of metal and glass are all common contaminants in scrap HDPE.
Sorting the bale
After this process is complete, the HDPE then goes through a sorting process. HDPE must be separated from non HDPE plastic products that may have inadvertently been included in the bale, as well as any metals, glass, or other common refuse materials that may have made it past the trommel.
HDPE Granulation
The HDPE then undergoes a process known as “granulating”, which is simply shredding the bottles and other HDPE material. This further aids in the removal of any stubborn contaminants that may have been inside HDPE bottles, and it also helps remove labels and other adhesive materials.
Cleaning HDPE
Then the cleaning of the HDPE begins in earnest. There are various methods by which scrap HDPE is cleaned, but the first stage is generally washing. The HDPE is washed in either water, or water/chemical compositions. As you might expect, detergents are employed to remove any dirt, as well as other chemicals which remove other residues from the HDPE. The chemical soltions chosen will vary from process to process depending on the source of the HDPE, and the preference of the recycler.
It’s Float Or Sink
Once the HDPE has been washed, it is then separated from the remaning contaminants by an ingenious process known as float/sink separation. HDPE is lighter than water, and will float, however most contaminants will sink to the bottom of the tank. HDPE can then be scooped off the top and taken away to be dried.
Drying HDPE off
HDPE is dried in what is essentially a large industrial spin dryer. Not unlike a washing machine wash cycle, the HDPE is first rinsed and spun dry. It may then undergo a process called “air classification”, which helps to remove any last remnants of pollutants before it is dried off.
Raw, or Melted HDPE?
Once the HDPE is dried, which is achieved under a stream of heated air, it is either ready to be sold to a manufacturer, or undergo one last step of processing, known as melt processing. Melt processing involves reheating the HDPE to melting point, and then cutting it into little pellets. In some instances, various substances may be added to the HDPE to make it suitable for various applications.
And there you have it! The final product is small, clean chips of HDPE regrind which are now clean, safe, and ready to be made use of in a myriad of applications.
HDPE Regrind Prices
HDPE can be color sorted or mixed (mixed being cheaper). To get a list of available HDPE Regrind stock and latest prices, please use the form below. We will reply shortly.