FDA Investigates Failure-Prone Plastic Syringes Made in China

FDA Investigates Failure-Prone Plastic Syringes Made in China

Plastic industry

via Plastics Today

Agency recommends avoiding use of plastic syringes manufactured in China as it evaluates quality issues resulting in leakage and breakage.

  • FDA has received information about quality issues associated with several China-based manufacturers of syringes
  • Manufacturers made changes to syringe dimensions, affecting performance and safety
  • BD syringes not affected as almost all are made in US

Read the full story here: https://www.plasticstoday.com/medical/fda-investigates-failure-prone-plastic-syringes-made-in-china

DOE Invests $13.4 Million to Combat Plastic Waste, Reduce Plastic Industry Emissions

via Energy.gov

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $13.4 million in funding for next generation plastics technologies that reduce the energy consumption and carbon emissions of single-use plastics. The seven selected research and development (R&D) projects — led by industry and universities — will convert plastic films into more valuable materials and design new plastics that are more recyclable and biodegradable. This investment advances  DOE’s work to address the challenges of plastic waste recycling and supports the Biden Administration’s efforts to build a clean energy economy and ensure the U.S. reaches net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

Read the full story here: https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-invests-134-million-combat-plastic-waste-reduce-plastic-industry-emissions

Adding enzymes to bioplastics can make them disappear

via Popular Science

With so many different plastics entering the waterways that take hundreds of years to decompose, plastic pollution and microplastics are almost everywhere on the planet, from the air to the sea, in vast quantities. Compostable plastics, like corn-based plastic cups and straws, are sometimes touted as a viable solution, but without the infrastructure to properly turn them into compost, they can end up in a landfill

To keep our oceans from becoming even more plastic-filled, scientists are finding the keys to making plastics quickly decompose, and baking them into the plastic’s formula. Ting Xu, professor of materials science and engineering and chemistry at the University of California Berkeley, and her research group investigate biologically available solutions that will allow single-use plastic to biodegrade under easily attainable conditions. In a new study, they describe how they used an innovative polymer coating on enzymes that can be built-in to bioplastics to make them easier to compost at home. 

Read the full story here: https://www.popsci.com/story/environment/biodegradable-plastics-enzyme/

Advanced recycling strategies needed to clean up plastic pollution problem, says expert

via Phys.org

Sustainability across the entire value chain—rather than advances in technology alone—is required to solve the United States’ plastic waste problems, according to a new brief from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.

The report by Rachel Meidl, fellow in energy and environment at the Baker Institute, argues that the U.S., which is one of the largest contributors to global pollution and has among the lowest recycling rates, needs to improve the quality of its plastics and the economics of collection, sorting and waste management.

Read the full story here: https://phys.org/news/2021-02-advanced-recycling-strategies-plastic-pollution.html


Plastic Fuels: Do They Fix Waste Or Greenwash It?

via Forbes

Marketed as a solution to the environmental and waste problems the plastic industry is currently facing, recycled carbon fuels are problematic. And they will be at odds with Wednesday’s vote from the EU Parliament backing a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

briefing published by Zero Waste Europe shows that these fuels are produced by converting plastics back to their original fossil form. As they are burnt and carbon is released to the atmosphere, they are ultimately exacerbating climate change.

Read the full story here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/emanuelabarbiroglio/2020/10/08/the-pros-and-cons-of-plastic-to-fuels/#4508a3ce48cb

PLASTICS INDUSTRY “ESSENTIAL” AS FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE WITH PRODUCTS TO FIGHT CORONAVIRUS

via Plastics Industry Association

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) President and CEO Tony Radoszewski issued a statement today requesting all local, state and federal governments to include plastic resin and plastic product manufacturers as ‘essential’ in order to stay open when Shelter in Place orders are issued.

“With more and more businesses being ordered to close during the pandemic crisis, it is critical that healthcare workers have access to plastic products. Single-use plastics can literally be the difference between life and death. Items such as IV bags and ventilator machines, which are of the utmost importance right now, have components made of single-use plastics. The single-use hospital gowns, gloves, and masks that protect our healthcare workers every day are also made of plastic. I would venture to say that every machine, piece of medical care equipment, hospital bed, examination scope and tool has a component made of plastic, most of which are molded to exacting tolerances, which is possible due to the resin and the machinery being used.”

Read the full story here: https://www.plasticsindustry.org/article/plastics-industry-essential-first-line-defense-products-fight-coronavirus    

Draft US law seeks to make plastic industry responsible for waste

via Yahoo The proposed “Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act,” introduced by Democratic lawmakers, would be the most ambitious regulation the US plastics industry has ever seen.

It would require producers to collect and recycle their own waste, create a nationwide drink container refund scheme and phase out certain single-use plastic items.

Read the full story here: https://au.news.yahoo.com/draft-us-law-seeks-plastic-industry-responsible-waste-011137658–spt.html

Plastics industry unveils $500 million federal recycling legislation

via Plastics News

Washington — Two members of Congress and a coalition of businesses and trade groups in plastics, waste management and other materials unveiled a $500 million legislative plan Nov. 15 that would allocate federal funding to beef up recycling and waste management.

The Realizing the Economic Opportunities and Values of Expanding Recycling Act, or Recover Act, would set aside $500 million in federal matching funds for states, local governments and tribes to invest in improving recycling infrastructure. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif., and Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Ind.

Read the full story here: https://www.plasticsnews.com/news/plastics-industry-unveils-500-million-federal-recycling-legislation

NPE2018 Official Mobile App Now Available

Attending NPE2018 in May? Be sure to download the official NPE2018 Mobile App.

Available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play, the app can help you enhance your experience at the event.

App users have access to:

  • floor plans,
  • exhibitor listings
  • educational conferences/sessions
  • My Show Planner
  • show info and announcements
  • social media

To download the official app visit: http://www.npe.org/mobile-app

 

Plastics Buyer Domino Plastics Company to Exhibit at NPE 2018 for Fifth Time

Domino Plastics scrap buyer NPE

Port Jefferson, NYDomino Plastics Company Inc. will showcase its’ plastic scrap recycling services at NPE2018: The Plastics Show—the largest plastics conference and tradeshow in the world, featuring more than 65,000 buyers from across the globe and more than 1 million square feet of exhibit space—May 7-11, 2018 at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Domino Plastics is a full-service plastic scrap recycling company that has been in business for 30 years. They buy and sell all types of post-industrial plastics.

“We are looking forward to this year’s plastics’ show in Orlando. NPE has been a great resource for Domino Plastics to connect with manufacturers who generate scrap or need recycled raw materials,” said Domino Plastics’ COO Michael Domino.

Attendees can register for a complimentary pass to NPE2018 using Domino Plastics Company’s unique registration link: http://www.npeguestpass.org/47824. For more information about NPE2018: www.npe.org.   

About Domino Plastics Company Inc.

Since 1983 Domino Plastics has been collecting and reselling post-industrial plastic scrap. They offer the best prices for plastics, and next day scrap pickup in the USA.

About NPE2018: The Plastics Show

Recognized as the world’s largest plastics trade show and conference, NPE2018 brings together all industry sectors, including vertical and peripheral markets, end markets, brand owners and recyclers. Held every three years, NPE attracts more than 65,000 plastics professionals and features industry-focused education and leading suppliers of emerging technologies, equipment and materials for every phase of plastics processing, all in 1 million square feet of exhibit space. 

Building on its most successful show in 2015, held in Orlando, Florida, NPE2018 anticipates even greater participation from up and down the global plastics supply chain when it returns to Orlando in 2018. NPE is produced by Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) and is the only international plastics event produced by the industry for the industry. For more information, or to register: www.npe.org.  

About The Plastics Industry Association

The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), formerly SPI, is the only organization that supports the entire plastics supply chain, representing nearly one million workers in the $418 billion U.S. industry. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members and the industry more globally competitive while advancing recycling and sustainability. To learn more about PLASTICS’ education initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, networking opportunities and policy advocacy, and North America’s largest plastics trade show, NPE2018: The Plastics Show, visit www.plasticsindustry.org. Connect with PLASTICS on TwitterFacebook and LinkedIn.