What do you guys do with your plastics?

I've been accumulating a lot of plastics. The only place that takes them around me is the only place I dang near refuse to go to. The only other place I found will only take it if it is an industrial account.

I know across state I can get .04/# for it (through Wes). I'm just trying to weigh my options.

I don't have a problem with gaylording it up and shipping out, but is it that fruitful to be worth my time? I'm not looking to make a huge profit off of it, but I don't want to see my current and growing 300-500# go into the trash heap.


If anyone knows someone in west michigan, I would be much obliged.

Plastics is a hard business to be in.
So many different grades and without large amounts 40,000lbs + it is hard to find any buyers interested.
Without having a baler, it is hard to get over 300lbs lbs in a single Gaylord. Baling the mixed plastic is the only way to make weight, but most of the average Escrap guys are not going to spend 10k + on a baler.
One of the problems with computer plastic is that it has a FR rating (Fire retardant). There is not a huge market for this in the US, so most of it gets exported overseas. And chipping the plastic through a wood chipper is not beneficial at all. Actually we pay significantly less for chipped plastic.
If you have any other questions feel free to ask. Plastic are over half of our business so I have some knowledge about it.

Seems that is a perpetual problem. Closest place I have found is about 40 miles one way in a city I rarely, if ever, have business in. And that company doesn't pay for it, they just said they would be willing to let me dump there. If the profit was there, it certainly seems like some of us could join forces in regional or sub-regional "hubs" to get this stuff moved (and kept out of landfills). With weight/volume being a key, on a small scale, most of us are S.O.L. as sellers, but if small operators were feeding a regional or sub-regional network of some kind, maybe that could work. As noted, though, equipping those facilities might be expensive. Just seems like so much material is out there and it is such a common and ongoing problem that there ought to be a solution of some kind.

If you can't supply truckload quantities, the next best thing to do is to recycle.

It's a good deal if you can get per/lb. prices with loose plastic. Take the money for you are doing yourself and the environment a solid.
If someone is paying for plastic more times than not its being recycled in some form which is always a good thing... I think.

I do the same as Parrothead. I put all my plastics in with my household recycling that the city picks up once a week. My problem is that I always have more than will fit in the can and they won't get out of the truck to pick up anything that isn't in the can that they grab with an automatic arm and dump into the truck. I have actually taken pickup loads plastic and cardboard to the local college and dumped them into their big recycling dumpsters outside of the dorms a few times just to keep my pile manageable.

If you are talking about 300-500# per week you are probably pissin' in the wind. Plastic is a very high volume game. There are a couple of large scale buyers in Gary, IN., not prohibitively far from you, but I think they want tonnage/day. Best of luck to you, on this, Lousy! Keep us small scale Midwest guys up to date if you find anything better!

Originally Posted by Swampy

Seems that is a perpetual problem. Closest place I have found is about 40 miles one way in a city I rarely, if ever, have business in. And that company doesn't pay for it, they just said they would be willing to let me dump there. If the profit was there, it certainly seems like some of us could join forces in regional or sub-regional "hubs" to get this stuff moved (and kept out of landfills). With weight/volume being a key, on a small scale, most of us are S.O.L. as sellers, but if small operators were feeding a regional or sub-regional network of some kind, maybe that could work. As noted, though, equipping those facilities might be expensive. Just seems like so much material is out there and it is such a common and ongoing problem that there ought to be a solution of some kind.

I have looked into this, but have niether space nor quantity

Balers can be rented/leased from some of the buyers.

They will probably require a contract stating you will only sell to them if you use their baler.

Balers generally use 3 phase electric

In tractor trailer load quantities, you should get paid better than shred.

Originally Posted by sdakscrapper

I do the same as Parrothead. I put all my plastics in with my household recycling that the city picks up once a week. My problem is that I always have more than will fit in the can and they won't get out of the truck to pick up anything that isn't in the can that they grab with an automatic arm and dump into the truck. I have actually taken pickup loads plastic and cardboard to the local college and dumped them into their big recycling dumpsters outside of the dorms a few times just to keep my pile manageable.

Can you obtain another home recycling container at no extra cost?

ya, i usually put on the curb for recyclying.Once a month a company that provides recyclying for any 1-7 plastic.

I finally found a place that will take my plastic. It's not much compared to many of you but 500 pounds every 2 or 3 months is a lot to me.
There is an ewaste recycling facility that's real close and I drop it off on my way to work. They don't pay me for it but I'm not really concerned about that. It's just nice being able to drop it off knowing it won't end up in the landfill.

Plastic isn't much of a money maker for me, I dont really care either just knowing that I am recycling makes me feel better.

I send somewhere around 500-1000#'s a month to Wes (when its warm). So an extra $40 a month on top of the same or more amount of printers, and other various e waste he gets from me.

Solid replays again I have nothing to add. Except your gaylords and pallets cost more than the profit margin on the plastic.

Do it for the planet not $$ this time.

Baling is the only way to go. IMO

I have to agree with Arron baling is the only way to go. I have a buyer in NH and Mass and selling in gaylords on pallets is not cost effective recycle for a better tomorrow!

Originally Posted by thortek

We bought a small plastic baler. We use the boxes that people give us waste in, as caps, and make bales of plastic a little bigger than 2x the size of a hay bale.

We have a buyer, he offered us a price a little better than most of the ewaste buyers in Ohio, and it's only about 45 minutes down the road. He doesn't buy from the general public, I just happen to have been introduced to him by a former client. The old man plans to load the big flatbed up with pallets of plastic and go collect his $300-500 in the spring. The nice part is that plastic was the only thing we were tossing. I think we'll soon be able to cancel our dumpster!

The baler we bought runs on 3phase. Picked up a phase convertor on ebay cheap.

We also bought a plastic granulator. This will turn plastic pieces into plastic bb's, I have a retail end in mind for the regrind...fingers crossed!

Remember not all industrial equipment is expensive. We bought the baler on ebay and drove 10 hours to get it....for $7 or 800...the granulator went for $700 and was just up the road.

Are you sorting your plastic by type and color? If so, how many separate piles/bins?

I'm just keeping my eye out for bigger boxes from work, and will get a load out to Wes sooner or later. This weather and my normal job has been killing me.