Polypropylene Banding Material - recycling options?

kathrynh · **Joined:** Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:54 pm **Posts:** 3

We (James Shields & Company in Spotswood) receive pallets and boxes that are secured with polypropylene banding / strapping (mostly clear or blue). We also send out boxes of goods from our warehouse with the same material used to secure the packages.

I have made some enquiries through our local council (Hobson's Bay) and our banding supplier about recycling the material, but, as yet, have not located anyone who takes this type of recyclable product. The council does not accept it as part of the kerbside collection; I have been informed that this is due to the size and shape of the item that makes it incompatible withthe Visy recycling systems.

Has anyone else found a solution? We do not have huge quantities but enough to make it a worthwhile exercise to keep it out of landfill.

horsham house · **Posted:** Thu Feb 25, 2010 11:55 am

Hi Kathryn,

I had come across a related issue with our B&B waste stream... PET strawberry punnets, biscuit trays and other blister packs as well as bread/tomato/potato/outpackaging PP plastics.

I started stockpiling into segregated lots then on a convenient trip past our local recycling centre would make myself known to the operators and put the 'pure' recyclables into their apprpriate hoppers.

The strapping you talk about is likely to tangle the sorting conveyer/separation machine, but stockpiling (into a pallet-bin?) and infrequent collection/delivery may work... It took minor negotiation for use to achieve our stock pile and drop off approach.

What does the manufacturer do with their pre-consumer waste strapping? Often that's where packaging plastics cans imply be re-introduced into the production process.

MY 2 cents worth! Cheers, Chris

kathrynh · **Joined:** Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:54 pm **Posts:** 3

We have found a recycler (Sims Plastics in Maribyrnong) that recycles this type of material (polypropylene strapping) and dropped off a bag to them to review. So that's good news. We have yet to establish with them that they will accept the material on an ongoing basis.

We have also found a Planet Ark website called 'Business Recycling' which seems at first glance to be a terrific resource and we have made further enquiries into recycling options for plastic strapping, sheeting and timber skids.

So, things are looking up!

There is also a link to a regional service called 'plasback' which looks really interesting and a great service to farmers and those on the land.

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Polypropylene Banding Material - recycling options?

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