Why PTM Recycles Scrap Materials into Durable Plastic Pallets
Video of PTM’s approach to recycling scrap plastic.
In reusable plastic pallet applications we often talk about closed loop systems where an extremely durable plastic pallet can be reused time and time again to deliver an extremely low cost per trip. On a much broader social scale, society must find better ways to close the loop on other material flows such as scrap plastic bottles, so that they can be effectively recycled to create the raw material for new products. One example of how a plastic pallet and container manufacturer helps promote sustainability is through its own internal recycling capability. Case in point, PTM has the capacity to recycle over 4,400 pounds of material per hour, and annually recycles over 14,000 tons of plastic, which it utilizes in the production of new plastic pallets, crates, and point of sale fixtures.
“The benefits of plastic pallets have been well documented,” explains David Gonzalez, Sales Manager for PTM, noting such valued features as 100 percent consistent sizing, durability, resistance to moisture, mold and contaminants, ISPM-15 exemption, and ease of cleaning, as well as manual handling free from hazards created by exposed nails or splinters.
Not so widely publicized, however, is exactly why choosing plastic pallets manufactured from recycled resin is so important. “There are many important reasons to choose recycled plastic pallets,” Gonzalez continues. He remarks that increasingly, the preference for recycled products is being stressed through corporate sustainability policies, and the selection of recycled plastic pallets is a great way to help comply. PTM supports the “ONE PLANET LIVING” initiative (www.bioregional.com).
“The choice of recycled plastic also offers important environmental benefits,” Gonzalez adds. Aside from diverting plastic away from landfills, one ton of recycled plastic resin reduces the requirement for 16.3 barrels of oil required to produce virgin plastic. Additionally, he points out, the use of recycled plastic requires significantly less energy than the creation of virgin plastic. This may not seem obvious, given the processing required to grind, sort and wash recycled resin, but the fact of the matter is that the energy consumption is considerably less than the creation of new material. The equivalent of over 5,700 kilowatt hours of energy can be saved by recycling a ton of plastic versus new.
Also noteworthy, the use of recycled resin can also help PTM in terms of being able to offer competitive prices for its products. In terms of strictly maintaining its product integrity, PTM works closely with its scrap plastic suppliers to ensure quality of incoming material, as well as through ongoing monitoring by its laboratory staff. “We have an in-house laboratory that guarantees quality and undertakes the proper testing for all of our products,” Gonzales concludes. “We will never risk quality or performance in any of our products.
For more information, visit http://www.ptmsolutions.com/us/