HDPE Milk bottle scrap

One of the most sought after type of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) scrap for recycling are the HDPE milk bottles. If you are looking to produce products that are brightly colored, it is recommended that you purchase virgin injection grade HDPE. Recycled injection grade HDPE is, generally speaking, just as sound as virgin HDPE, but it is generally a murky color due to the various colors of HDPE blended in the recycling process. This is not the case with HDPE milk bottles though. The scrap consisting only of HDPE Milk bottles is pure white or clear. Recycled HDPE made of this type of scrap is equal in all characteristics to Virgin HDPE. Milk bottles scrap is also abundantly available due to the fact that most western world countries use it as main packaging for milk.

Where to buy scrap HDPE milk bottles?

You can do so here. Please contact us through this form below, or email us at info (at) hdpescrap.com. Generally we will reply within a few hours

• price: $800 / metric ton
• packaging: scrap is packed in bales or sacks
• container load: we can load 24MT in 40F container and 12 MT in 20F container
• available quantity: We can supply on going monthly 200 metric tons
• origin of the product: Lagos,Nigeria
• shipping port: Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria
• payment terms: 30% down payment and 70% confirmable letter of credit at sight payable on presentation of shipping document.
• SGS inspection is welcome (customer pays for the inspection)

 Buy HDPE scrap from Nigeria

If interested in this product, please contact us through this form below and make sure you metion which product you are inquiring about. We will reply shortly.

• price: EUR 300 / metric ton
• packaging: big bags and rolls
• currently available quantity: 1500 metric tons (right now)
• monthly available quantity: 400 metric tons
• origin port: Belgium
• delivery time : 2 weeks
• payment conditions: Letter of credit irrevocable and transferable

Pictures of scrap HDPE nets

Order the HDPE nets scrap

If interested, please contact us through this form below and we will get back to you within a few hours. Or you can also email us at info (at) hdpescrap.com

Adhesives 

Adhesives are used on most all HDPE bottles as part of the promotional arsenal of the product with which they were already filled. Various types of adhesives cause various problems for the HDPE reprocessor, and attention should be paid when obtaining HDPE scrap that it does not contain glues from the section marked “Problematic Adhesives”.

The optimal glue for HDPE bottles which are to be reprocessed are any glues which are part of the water based glue family. Much of the HDPE recycling process involves washing the bottles, and water based glues quickly degrade and shed their labels with this treatment. Much time and money can be saved by obtaining HDPE bottles with labels attached with water based glue.

Problematic Adhesives.

Hot Melt Adhesives

Hot melt label adhesion is a process whereby a label is attached to a bottle using a hot liquid adhesive, which cools to a thermoplastic solid. At room temperature, the bonds of hot melt adhesives are nigh impossible to break without the use of very high temperatures. Hot melt adhesives are entirely resistant to water, and so cannot be removed with the usual recycling processes, which rely largely on water to remove various contaminants.

HDPE bottles with hot melted labels are not generally considered to be compatible with the recycling process, and will be discarded by HDPE recyclers. Purchasing scrap HDPE bottles which have been labelled in this fashion is therefore highly inadvisable.

Pressure Sensitive Adhesives

Pressure sensitive adhesives are adhesives which will bond with materials when pressure is applied. These are troublesome to remove, and as a result will quite often stay on the bottle, causing the label to also remain on the bottle, and to be present in the final product. This is hardly desirable, and can degrade the quality of the reprocessed HDPE.

Inks 

Inks are generally not too problematic when it comes to the recycling process. Care should be taken however, to ensure that any labels which make use of colored ink either do not contain much ink, or are not a large part of the HDPE stream being recycled. Small amounts of water based inks can easily be removed during the intense washing stages of  the recycling process, however large amounts of water based inks can contaminate the wash to the point that the resulting HDPE flake is also colored.

Caps, Seals, Closures, and Liners 

Owing to the issues of product contamination, and the need to protect the public consumers HDPE bottles will often be equipped with special seals and closures in addition to their usual caps.  These seals and closures are quite often made with materials other than HDPE, and their presence can contaminate the HDPE and cause it to be of a lower quality than desired, or useless altogether.

Polypropylene Closures

Polypropylene cannot be removed from the HDPE being recycled using current processes. Like several other plastics, Polypropylene stays with HDPE when it is being treated in the recycling process, and can cause a lower grade of HDPE to be produced. This lower grade HDPE is suitable for some applications, but is generally considered to be undesirable.

PVC Tamper Proof Seals/Liners

PVC tamper proof seals, whilst very useful for ensuring that a product has not been meddled with, cause huge problems in the recycling process. All too often, the PVC seal will not be entirely removed by the consumer, and even in cases where it is removed, there is often PVC  residue on the bottle neck due to the design of the seal. PVC has a much lower melting point than HDPE, and chars during the melting part of the process, leaving black specks in the HDPE resin which lower the value of the resin, and makes it unsuitable for many applications. PVC liners are also problematic due to the fact that PVC  is lighter than water, floats, and is therefore skimmed off with the HDPE during the float/sink part of the recycling process.

Aluminum Closures, Seals, Liners

Aluminum closures and seals produce similar problems to PVC seals. Due to the nature of a tamper proof seal, they are very difficult to remove from the bottle entirely. In some cases the consumer may be able to remove them, in other cases they are designed to stay on the bottle. Because they are not easily removed in the recycling processes either, they make for a reduced quality HDPE resin, which is not suitable for many applications.

LDPE Closures

LDPE is the lower density version of HDPE. It is quite often used for closures on HDPE bottles. Like the other closures, it is difficult to remove from the HDPE stream because it possesses similar properties to HDPE. In the float/sink process, where most contaminants sink to the bottom of the tank, and HDPE floats on the surface, LDPE will also float, causing it to be skimmed off with the HDPE. It will then be mixed in with the HDPE through the rest of the process, and results in a usable, but lower grade resin. Large amounts of LDPE should be avoided, although smaller quantities should not have a major impact on the quality of the reprocessed HDPE.

Metallic Objects 

The other major issue for HDPE re processors are the metal parts that are sometimes used for various applications. Bottles that contain ball bearings or springs are generally not used in HDPE processing, due to the fact that the metals are difficult to remove during the recycling process, and may even damage the equipment, not to mention contaminating the HDPE and making it useless for further applications.

HDPE products incorporating metals should not be purchased for reprocessing purposes. Keep an eye out for scrap HDPE which comes from spray bottles and oil containers, as these are the most frequent culprits containing metal contaminants.

The challenge for people new to the business of purchasing scrap HDPE, and post industrial scrap HDPE in particular, is in knowing exactly what post industrial scrap HDPE is, and being able to distinguish it from other types of scrap HDPE.

When purchasing scrap HDPE, the delineation between Post Consumer HDPE and Post Industrial HDPE can be especially confusing, with some purveyors attempting to blur the line in order to gain a higher price for so called post industrial scrap HDPE that should really be labeled post consumer HDPE.

The main difference between post industrial and post consumer scrap HDPE, and a simple definition that can be adhered to when purchasing post industrial HDPE is simple. The category of post consumer HDPE is made up of all items of HDPE that have at some point been filled with a product, whether it be margarine, shampoo, oil, or some other substance, or that have been made use of in the function for which they were created. Post industrial scrap HDPE on the other hand, will never have been used in any capacity. It may be offcuts or remainder parts, or it may be malformed items that were produced, but discarded before being used. In any case, true post industrial scrap HDPE will never have left the factory, and will never have been sold to a consumer.

Post industrial scrap HDPE typically fetches a higher price than post consumer HDPE for a wide range of reasons, many of which are detailed below.

Why Choose Post Industrial Scrap HDPE?

Post industrial scrap HDPE is generally more highly regarded than post consumer HDPE as it is less likely to be contaminated by food products and dirt and such, so it requires less cleaning and sorting. This makes for a more streamlined and cost effective reprocessing process, and also a higher grade end product.

There are a myriad of ways that post consumer HDPE can become tainted. From the labellings applied to HDPE bottles, to additional plastic fittings, safety seals, even pieces of metal which are used for springs and caps, many contaminants can get into the HDPE stream and degrade the quality of the resulting HDPE regrind. Post consumer HDPE is therefore often lower grade, and oftentimes is colored, making for a product with limited manufacturing applications.

Post industrial scrap HDPE on the other hand will generally not have been exposed to the processes that post consumer HDPE undergoes, and so will not have been contaminated in the same fashion. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding, and post industrial HDPE products such as pellets and flakes can often be recognized by their pure translucent color, and high grade quality. Essentially, buying post industrial scrap HDPE is the closest you can get to purchasing new HDPE without paying the higher price.

For those seeking a middle of the road option, many times post industrial scrap HDPE is combined with post consumer scrap HDPE. This can produce a high grade HDPE product, but is generally speaking more doubtful than HDPE regrind, flakes, or pellets that have been produced solely from post industrial HDPE.

 Post industrial Scrap HDPE Prices

To get a list of currently available post industrial HDPE scrap supply and prices please contact us through this form below

Scrap HDPE – Label Contaminant Guide

Scrap HDPE is by its very nature, a product that needs to be handled with great care and expertise if it is to be reprocessed into a high grade raw material for new HDPE products. Unlike freshly manufactured HDPE, scrap HDPE has been exposed to all manner of uses and contaminants in its lifetime, and these must be rigorously sought out and removed if the end product is to be of a high quality.

Whilst the processes used for recycling scrap HDPE are very advanced, and generally produce a high quality product that is suitable for many applications, there are some contaminants that are more difficult to remove, and may make for lower grade scrap HDPE, or reprocessed HDPE with flaws that make it unsuitable for various applications.

A very common potential contaminant when it comes to scrap HDPE is bottle labels. A high amount of scrap HDPE comes in various bottle forms, which are very often covered in labels. Various manufacturers use different materials for their product labels, and each type of label can represent a unique challenge to the scrap HDPE purchaser and recycler.

In the interests of educating consumers of scrap HDPE, this is a listing of common label contaminants that are sometimes found in scrap HDPE, and of which once should be aware, so that they may be either avoided entirely, or in order to get a better price on what may very well be a lower grade HDPE product. This information is also very useful for purchasers of bailed HDPE, who should take time to note the types of labeling that are stuck on the bottles in the scrap HDPE bail. Doing so can ensure a higher quality end product, and being aware of various potential problems can save a great deal of time and money in the long run.

The sections are sorted into various types of problems that one may encounter in the final product, and the causes of these issues are then listed in each section. There is also a section on paper labels, which can produce some unique difficulties of their own.

Black HDPE Flakes

Some scrap HDPE products have black flakes in them. These are unsightly, and make the HDPE regrind unsuitable for many applications. There are two main sources of black flakes, and both should be avoided.

PVC Labels

PVC Labels are a much more problematic issue than many other labels, as their presence will often cause a black flecked appearance in the HDPE. It is not difficult to remove PVC, as like many other common contaminants, it is heavier than water, and will sink during the float/sink process. However, if the process is not undertaken for a sufficient length of time, or if it is not done completely thoroughly, some remnants of PVC may remain. These remnants of PVC cause particular trouble later on in the process when the HDPE is heated. During this heating process, whilst the HDPE melts, PVC quickly chars due to its much lower melting point, resulting in the tell tale black flecks in the final HDPE product.

Metallic Impregnated Labels

Another cause of black flecks or specks in HDPE resin are Metallic Impregnated Labels. Unlike PVC, which is relatively easy to remove as long as sufficient care is taken to ensure that the usual recycling processes are carried out thoroughly, Metallic Impregnated labels often become fragmented during the recycling process, spreading metallic particles throughout the HDPE. It is recommended that you strenuously avoid scrap HDPE with Metallic Impregnated labels, as they are not cost effective to handle, and small amounts can contaminate a whole batch, rendering it completely useless for producing new materials. Due to the difficult nature of these labels, many reprocessors refuse to deal with Metallic Impregnated labels altogether.

Colored HDPE Regrind

Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Labels

LDPE is HDPE’s low density cousin, and as such, is not nearly as problematic as other plastics can be in the HDPE recycling process. Small amounts of LDPE will not have a large effect on the quality of the finished HDPE, but larger quantities can cause problems, especially if there is color in the LDPE labels. Color can quite easily taint the entire batch of HDPE and produce colored regrind at the end of the process.

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Labels

At first it seems counterintuitive to suppose that HDPE labels might be a problem with recycling, or reprocessing HDPE, and to some extent, they are no problem at all. They possess the same properties as other forms of scrap HDPE, and are most suitable for reprocessing. However problems arise when the HDPE labels are colored. Most all product labels contain some form of ink, and it is this ink that can color the HDPE and make it unsuitable for certain end uses. The ink is almost impossible to remove entirely, even with the most advanced processes, and it is almost assured that if HDPE Labels are not removed, that the entire batch will be contaminated with color. Structurally however, the quality of the HDPE is unaffected, and HDPE regrind thus colored may still be suitable for applications where coloring is less important, such as in the instance of underground pipes, pallets, and the like.

Low Grade Regrind

Polypropylene Labels

Polypropylene Labels are problematic when it comes to scrap HDPE. Polypropylene is difficult to remove from HDPE bottles because, much like HDPE, it floats, and so is not so easily removed via the float/sink process. In small amounts, polypropylene contaminates the HDPE making it suitable only for low grade products, and in higher amounts, renders the HDPE completely useless. Great care should be taken to remove Polypropylene labels, and if possible, it is a good idea to avoid using scrap HDPE with Polypropylene labels altogether.

Polyethylene Terephthalate Labels (PET)

Unlike Polypropylene, PET labels are more easily removed due to the fact that PET will sink during the float/sink process, and can quite easily be removed during the usual HDPE recycling processes. The only problem with PET is the fact that if any is left in the HDPE, it will remain a solid, due to the fact that its melting point is nearly twice that of HDPE. This produces a contaminated flake. However, PET labels are not a huge problem as long as the float/sink process is carried out with due diligence.

The Problem Of Paper

Paper labels can be hugely problematic for HDPE reprocessing, depending on the type of paper label used. There are two main types of paper labels, plain paper labels, and wet strength paper labels.

Wet Strength Paper Labels

These labels are specially designed to resist water, which means that they hold up rather well during the HDPE washing process. Unfortunately, if they are not removed, they are often mixed in with HDPE flake material, and the result is a contaminated batch of HDPE which is essentially a mix of HDPE and paper label product. This is highly undesirable, and great care must be taken that these labels are removed prior to the HDPE washing process.

Paper Labels

Other forms of paper labels have no waterproof qualities whatsoever. When the HDPE is washed, these paper labels turn into a pulpy mess which blocks up the equipment and can cause a great deal of trouble for the HDPE reprocessor. The color in the labels is also leeched out during the washing process, and there is a significant chance that the resulting HDPE will be tainted with color. Paper labels are the bane of a HDPE reprocessor’s life, as they require the machines to be unclogged, and filters to be replaced with far more frequency than other types of labeling.

What is Scrap HDPE ?

Scrap HDPE is essentially odds and ends of HDPE from HDPE productions, and/or HDPE that has already been produced and subsequently used elsewhere. Scrap HDPE comes in many different forms, which are useful for various types of applications. Buying scrap HDPE is a great way to get cheap HDPE, especially if you purchase what is known as post consumer HDPE. Post consumer HDPE is HDPE that has already been used for consumer goods, and has since been discarded. Thousands of tonnes of post consumer HDPE are sent to landfills every year, which is a complete waste of useful manufacturing material, and also highly detrimental to the environment, so by making the choice to use scrap HDPE in your products, you are likely to be saving yourself some money, as well as protecting the environment.

Perhaps the most plentiful source of scrap HDPE, post consumer scrap HDPE can be purchased in bale form. Each bale consists of various HDPE products which have been cleaned and compressed into bales for ease of handling. This type of scrap HDPE may sometimes be processed somewhat by having the various product labels removed, and being sorted according to color. The result of this process are distinctive white opaque bales. The cheapest scrap HDPE is generally not sorted however, and the purchaser does all the sorting, cleaning, and label removing themselves.

Essentially, for most purchasers of scrap HDPE, there are two main types of scrap HDPE that are most advisably bought.

HDPE Baled Scrap

As has already been mentioned, baled HDPE scrap usually consists of HDPE bottles, or occasionally barrels. HDPE barrels are excellent candidates for scrap HDPE, and often come in fairly homogeneous colors, which makes for easier sorting. Most HDPE barrels are blue, black, yellow or white, with blue or black being the predominant colors.

You can purchase baled scrap that has been cleaned and sorted for you, or you can undertake this operation yourself. No matter which option you take, baled HDPE scrap will then need to be sorted, cleaned, and prepared before being made into HDPE regrind, which can be used as a raw material in a wide variety of HDPE products.

HDPE Regrind

HDPE regrind is essentially HDPE scrap that has gone through several processes to clean it, remove contaminants and pollutants, shred it, wash it, and finally make it ready for use in other applications. For a fuller explanation of the fascinating process of how HDPE regrind is made, refer to the accompanying article. HDPE regrind can be clear, colored, mixed, or sorted. Some manufacturers prefer to create their own regrind, whilst others like to purchase HDPE regrind directly and save themselves the trouble of the process.

Other forms of Scrap HDPE include:

HDPE bags – These are bags often used in supermarkets and department stores. They are an excellent source of scrap HDPE, and are often processed into HDPE regrind.
HDPE trimmings/ HDPE offcuts - Generally the left over HDPE product from the manufacturing of other products, this material is also highly suited for conversion into HDPE regrind.

Scrap HDPE is an equally viable material for production as freshly made HDPE. The only restrictions on using scrap HDPE come with regard to food products. Most governing bodies frown upon the use of recycled HDPE products being used in food packaging, however there are a myriad of other applications where using recycled HDPE isn’t only possible, it is encouraged. Due to its unique chemical make up, HDPE is highly suitable for being melted down and re-used, and it is relatively cost effective to do so.

How to Buy HDPE Scrap:

Use the contact form below to get the recent HDPE Scrap prices and list of available supply.  Please be specific and state your requirements in detail so we can better help you.

HDPE Regrind (HDPE Flakes):
High Density Polyethylene is easily recycled. Manufacturers usually buy HDPE Scrap and convert it into granules or pellets, then feed that into the production line as raw material. Even easier and more cost effective way is to grind the plastic into “HDPE Regrind” and use that as raw material to create new HDPE products. HDPE Regrind can be mixed or sorted by color.

How we make the HDPE Regrind:
Baled HDPE scrap (bottles, barrels, postconsumer, etc.) are sent to our reclaimers that process post-consumer HDPE plastic into a form that can be used by converters or end-users. At a reclamation plant incoming baled HDPE scrap passes through a series of sorting and cleaning stages to separate HDPE from other materials that may be contained or from contaminants that might be present.

The HDPE grinding process steps:

Incoming HDPE bales are broken apart either manually or automatically, to produce a stream of individual scrap items for sorting. After debaling, HDPE scrap passes through a trommel (rotating) screen to remove dirt, stones and rocks, metals, or other physical contaminants that might be present. HDPE then passes via conveyor through manual or automated sorting system to remove non-HDPE plastic and other identifiable contaminants (film plastics, glass or metal containers, rocks etc.) to yield a clean stream of HDPE for further processing. The conveyor is equipped with magnets for ferrous metal removal. HDPE material is then shreaded into pieces. Shredding of the plastic into strips also assists in removing large metal contaminants that might be trapped inside HDPE items before grinding, which could cause damage to the grinder, and provides a more uniform feed stream for, granulating equipment. The granulating process frees other contaminants present on or in the HDPE scrap and loosens paper and plastic labels. Shredding results in the production of a more uniform particle size / flake by the granulator.

HDPE Regrind Prices:
To get the latest HDPE regrind prices please contact us by filling out the form below. Please make sure that you include all info about your requirements, shipping location and such.

HDPE Barrels Scrap
HDPE is commonly used in production of barrels. When they have served their purpose and are not wanted anymore they can be recycled. Commonly used colors are blue, black, yellow and white. HDPE barrels scrap can be sorted by those colors or it can be mixed. Usually HDPE barrels are compressed into cubes (bales) and loaded on pallets for shipping.

Scrap Barrel Prices
To get a list of current prices of HDPE barrels scrap aswell as currently available suppliers please use the contact form below. We will reply withing the same day.

We have two types of HDPE Bottles available:

Mixed HDPE Bottles scrap (with label stickers):

Mixed color HDPE bottles some with label stickers on them.

Clear HDPE Bottles scrap (also known as clean):

Clear HDPE bottles with all labeling removed and compressed into bales.

 HDPE Bottle regrind: 

HDPE bottle regrind (flakes), sorted by color or mixed.

HDPE bottle price list:
To get a list of currently available prices and HDPE bottle suppliers please use the contact form below