Atlantic Poly Blog

ATLANTIC POLY’S COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Darren Kincaid - Monday, December 28, 2009
As a nationwide supplier of packaging materials we’re faced with unprecedented changes.  Environmental issues have suddenly been thrust to the forefront. We’ve been pro-active on this situation since 1995 with the establishment of  Envirotech Div. (this is the Recycling Division of Atlantic Poly). 

Over the past 15 years we’ve helped remove millions of lbs of scrap from the waste stream.  We receive hundreds of calls inquiring about Recycling, Recycled Bags, Biodegradable Bags, and other environmental questions.  Our views and what we’re doing about these issues will be discussed on the following pages. We realize each of your companies’ can be faced with different environmental challenges.  What works for one company might not be viable for another. We’re here as a resource to help you with your environmental challenges.

Atlantic Poly would like to help in your recycling efforts and conserving our environment

Darren Kincaid - Monday, December 28, 2009

Atlantic Poly would like to help in your recycling efforts and conserving our environment:

  • Help your company's bottom line
  • Help your environment
  • Reduce your waste disposal costs
  • Potential for value of materials recycled
  • Possible tax benefits for recycling material
If you are disposing of any of the below materials, we have the capabilities to remove this material from your company's waste stream and turn that would-be waste into usable American made products such as Recycled Poly Bags and roll-off liners. We offer a pick-up service anywhere in the country provided the material is “baled”. (We need a min. of 10,000 lbs or more for this “pick-up” service) Please call us if we can help in your recycling efforts.  Materials We recycle:
  • Stretch Film
  • Pallet Wrap
  • Poly Bags
  • Poly Films
  • LDPE and HDPE

RECYCLED POLY BAGS - Good or Bad?

Darren Kincaid - Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Quotes requests for recycled poly bags are on the rise. There are positives and negatives when ordering a recycled poly bag. The pluses being we’re able to blend reprocessed resin in with virgin resin to manufacture a “recycled bag”.  The minuses are many. We cannot make a bag under .0015 thickness because reprocessed resin is not as strong as virgin grade resin. (The strength of the bag can vary from batch to batch..) There’s also a slight “haziness” to the poly because of the blend. A recycled poly bag isn’t always less expensive than a virgin grade bag. (The recycled resin market is very volatile and pricing can increase/decrease in a very short period of time) 

SOURCE REDUCTION AND RECYCLING

Darren Kincaid - Saturday, December 19, 2009
What It Is
Source reduction is decreasing the amount of materials or energy used during the manufacturing or distribution of products and packages. Because it stops waste before it starts, source reduction is the top solid waste priority of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

What Source Reduction Isn't
Source reduction is not the same as recycling. Recycling is collecting already used materials and making them into another product. Recycling begins at the end of a product's life, while source reduction first takes place when the product and its packaging are being designed.
The best way to think about source reduction and recycling is as complementary activities: combined, source reduction and recycling have a significant impact on preventing solid waste and saving resources.

Why It's Important
  • Source reduction conserves raw material and energy resources. Manufacturing thinner gauge films and bags requires less energy to manufacture and transport.  (LDPE and LLDPE resins have become more sophisticated and can be run at a thinner gauges with equivalent strength to thicker material. )
  • Source reduction reduces releases to air, land and water. For example, it takes less fuel to transport lighter weight materials.
  • Source reduction cuts back on what has to be thrown away. That helps keep solid waste disposal costs down, which is good for municipal budgets and consumers.

Domestic vs Imports

Darren Kincaid - Thursday, December 17, 2009

It has been assumed for a while now that imported production of plastic bags is always much cheaper than domestic production.  This is no longer true in many cases.

  • Anti-Dumping tariffs have raised import prices.
  • Reduction or elimination of Chinese government polyethylene resin subsidies, have raised import prices.
  • Cost of moving factories from tariff affected countries (China and Vietnam) to non tariff countries (Cambodia, Laos) have raised import prices.
On standard low density constructions like patch handle, drawstring, drawtape, die cut, and soft loop, domestic might now be the way to go.

A 3-4 week domestic lead time, is certainly easier to deal with than a 12-14 week import lead time.

Maybe it is time once again to think about supporting American production!!

TRUE LINERS

Darren Kincaid - Thursday, December 03, 2009

New product meets all EPA and Government Requirements

Binskin Liners… We’ve developed a new line of Roll Off liners called “TRUE LINERS” Guaranteed full gauge, Full spec liners that meet all EPA and Government requirements. BinSkins™ are heavy-duty polyethylene liners, providing maximum protection for your roll-off containers. BinSkins™ reduce potential leakage, lower wash-out costs and increase container longevity. BinSkins™ provide a cleaner, safer, easier way to dump debris, and other airborne contaminants. Easily installed by one person, BinSkins™ quickly roll open and extend over the top and sides of the containers.

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