Packaging materials recycling

Table 1.11 Packaging materials recycled by Post Plus, Belgium (2003)...

PE represents the largest constituent of plastics in the municipal waste stream and the fraction is mainly composed of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) packaging materials. Recycling this type of waste packaging material yields a stream of recycled plastic that is highly homogeneous and consistent [8]. 

Secondary Fiber. Increasing costs of taw fiber, legislative mandates for recycling (qv), and avadabdity of inexpensive waste papers have contfibuted to the increased use of recycled fibers. The use of secondary fiber in the United States has grown from 22% of pulp from all sources in 1978 to close to 31% (24 x 10 metric tons) in 1993 (3). Recycled fibers ate sometimes used in special writing papers, but the principal use is for the manufacture of linetboatd, newsprint, tissue, cereal boxes, towels, and molded paper products such as paper plates and egg cartons (see Packaging materials, containers AND INDUSTRIAL materials). 

LIFE CYCLE ANALYSIS OF RECYCLING AND RECOVERY OF HOUSEHOLDS PLASTICS WASTE PACKAGING MATERIALS. SUMMARY REPORT APME... 

The equivalent calculation of the environmental impact on the European level for substituting recycled fibre-based packaging material by virgin fibre-based material results in the required amount of 47 Mio t of wood or an equivalent of 110 million m3 of standing timber, an additional annual consumption of 400 Mio m3 of water,... 

A review of the chemical additives used is recommended not only for the manufacturer of recycled fibre-based packaging material but also for the producers of virgin fibre-based paper products. This should close this input pathway to avoid the contamination of their own products by chemical additives. Manufacturers of print products and packaging material not intended to be used in the foodstuff area should also close this input pathway due to the fact that the used papers and... 

Unnecessary packaging material should be avoided and the food should be packaged in reusable, recycled, recyclable and biodegradable packaging. 

A review is presented of the findings of a study of PVC as a packaging material undertaken by a committee of experts set up by the Spanish Ministry of the Environment. It was concluded that PVC does not pose a threat to health or the environment, that it complies with requirements for specific packaging applications, and that PVC packaging waste can be easily recycled and safely incinerated. SPAIN,MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT... 

Castle. L., de Kruijf, N., Franz, R., Gilbet, J. and Rossi, L., Recycling of plastics for food contact use, Guidelines prepared under the responsibility of the International Life Science Institute (ILSI) European Packaging Material Task Force, Washington, DC, 1998. 

BPA can occur due to an incomplete polymerization, followed by migration into the food or environment [200], Furthermore, BPA monomer is used as color developer in thermal paper and is consequently also present in recycled paper and paperboard which can be used as food packaging material [201]. Human exposure to BPA is believed to occur mainly through contaminated food, although recently dermal exposure and absorption have gained attention [202-204]. 

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