Looking to sell ABS Plastic from Printers

**APEnterprises** · 09-25-2013, 06:46 PM

First time posting on the forum here. My company is located in Massachusetts and are looking to sell ABS Plastic from printers. What we have been trying to do is separate the plastics from the metals in the printers by shredding the printers and using a magnetic conveyor to get out most of the metal (some small metal still gets through mostly aluminum) We have a buyer currently but we are only getting $.16 for mixed colored ABS plastic bales. I was hoping that I would be able to get more for this plastic and was wondering if anyone new people in the area that are interested in buying ABS plastic. Also, I have thought about granulating the plastic and try to sort some of it by color but it will cost a lot in order to get the machines to do that but is the price difference worth it? Does anyone know what kind of prices I can get for the grains and if I can get more for the plastic bales that we have? We are looking to process around 30k lbs a week at the time.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

**thortek** · 09-27-2013, 09:17 PM

$0.16 a pound is actually a pretty good price, especially if it's mixed bales.

**APEnterprises** · 09-30-2013, 08:10 PM

Yeah, I am starting to get that the price is pretty standard and we can get more if the bales are heavier. However I would like to find out the best way to capitalize on the plastic. My thought process is making it in to grains then separating them by color but I am not sure if its worth the price for the equipment and labor.

**Mechanic688** · 09-30-2013, 11:42 PM

Originally Posted by APEnterprises

Yeah, I am starting to get that the price is pretty standard and we can get more if the bales are heavier. However I would like to find out the best way to capitalize on the plastic. My thought process is making it in to grains then separating them by color but I am not sure if its worth the price for the equipment and labor.

I did an experiment with a limb/brush chipper with a 5 hp motor on it. It would chip up the plastic just as fast as I could shove it down the chute. I used a double wall cardboard box to catch the chippings and the chipper is throwing it out the chute so fast and hard that it cut a hole right thru the box.
I would set the chipper above the gaylord and let the chippings fall into it. Might just have to sharpen the blades/hammers every once in a while.
It won't accept large pieces tho, would have to cut the large chunks into more manageable pieces.

Might be able to use something like that to get the program started, let it pay for a better machine.

**conrad4784** · 12-18-2013, 05:55 PM

From what I understand you will get better prices for heavy bales that are color sorted dark / light. Most plastic buyers I have contacted do no want it to be chiped. Im still trying to find a good buyer also but I do not do the quantity you do just sorting and stockpiling till I find the right buyer. good luck

**MattInTheHat** · 12-18-2013, 10:10 PM

I did a little research on this last year. That is an amazing price for shredded plastic.

Most companies don't like it shredded because it is harder to sort out the stuff that doesn't belong. I think i was offered .05 for shredded if i have 30k lbs :-O

**Mmarro89** · 04-09-2014, 10:03 AM

Fairly certain the plastics on printers are not ABS plastic but polypropylene. A little late to this but figured id throw in my opinion

**stillwaterrecycling** · 05-12-2015, 02:06 PM

Hey my name is Aaron Lystila Im located in Leominster mass off rt 2 west. I have a few gaylords of plastics. One is white plastic from pcs and printers other is all others. Someone want to take our plastics for free Id be happy. Funny Im in the plastics city of America LEOMINSTER but cant find or meet anyone willing to start up a plastics recycling company. Times are tough huh.

Praise the lord