HDPE Injection Molded Plastic Recycling

At Seraphim Plastics, we pride ourselves on being a trusted commercial recycling partner for post-industrial plastic waste across the United States. One of the most commonly recycled and valuable plastic types in our operations is HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)—specifically HDPE injection molded plastics.

Whether your facility manufactures HDPE parts, packages materials using HDPE components, or generates HDPE waste during operations, we offer a profitable and sustainable outlet for recycling your excess. Below, we explore the full range of HDPE injection molded products we accept, how our process works, and how we help manufacturers and distributors turn scrap into value.

What Is HDPE and Why Is It Important?

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) is a thermoplastic polymer known for its strength, rigidity, chemical resistance, and recyclability. It is one of the most used resins in industrial and commercial applications.

Key Features:

  • High strength-to-density ratio
  • Excellent impact resistance
  • Can withstand heavy loads
  • Moisture and chemical resistance
  • Easily recyclable into pellets or regrind for reuse

Injection molded HDPE refers to plastic that has been shaped by forcing molten polymer into a mold under pressure—ideal for producing rigid, structured items like totes, bins, and buckets.

Types of HDPE Injection Molded Products We Accept

Seraphim Plastics accepts a wide range of HDPE injection molded products in post-industrial form. Below is a detailed breakdown of accepted categories.

1. Collapsible or Knock-Down Bins

These are large, reusable containers used in industrial logistics, manufacturing, agriculture, and automotive supply chains.

Common Traits:

  • Rigid HDPE frame with folding sidewalls
  • Designed for space-saving when empty
  • Often used for shipping and bulk storage

Recycling Guidelines:

  • Must be 100% HDPE (no mixed materials like PP or metal components)
  • Should be free from organic residue or contaminants
  • Can be accepted whole or broken down into panels and components

2. Crates

HDPE crates are injection molded containers used for transporting and storing goods. They are popular in industries like food processing, retail, and automotive.

Accepted Crate Types:

  • Beverage crates
  • Dairy crates
  • Industrial storage crates
  • Stackable supply crates

What We Look For:

  • Pure HDPE content
  • Free from adhesives, labels, or metal fasteners
  • Ideally boxed in gaylords for transport

3. Totes

Industrial totes—rigid, stackable containers—are often injection molded from HDPE due to the need for strength and chemical resistance.

Applications:

  • Pharmaceutical and cleanroom transport
  • Food and beverage storage
  • Parts and tool organization

We accept:

  • Damaged or obsolete totes
  • Excess tote stock
  • Off-spec totes

All must be clean, sorted, and free of mixed plastic components.

4. Plastic Pallets

We accept HDPE plastic pallets used in logistics and warehousing. Injection molded pallets are more durable and uniform than wooden alternatives, and they hold value in the recycling stream.

Specifications:

  • Rigid, mono-material HDPE pallets only
  • Must be free of embedded RFID chips or metal bands
  • Broken or cracked pallets are acceptable if they're HDPE

We do not accept wood/plastic hybrids or composite pallets.

5. 5-Gallon Buckets

One of the most recognizable forms of HDPE injection molded products, 5-gallon buckets are commonly used for paint, chemicals, adhesives, and food storage.

We accept:

  • Clean buckets without residue
  • Buckets with or without lids
  • Rejected or discontinued production runs
  • Non-food grade buckets (as long as they're clean)

Buckets should be stacked or boxed in gaylords for easy pickup.

6. Purge Lumps and Chunks

Purge is the plastic material purged from injection molding machines during cleanouts or color/material changes.

Types of HDPE Purge We Accept:

  • Cold lumps and chunks
  • Slabs from machine cleanouts
  • Virgin or mixed-color purge (if all HDPE)

Requirements:

  • No metal, wood, or contamination
  • No mixed resin types (must be HDPE only)

This material is ideal for grinding and pelletizing into regrind feedstock.

7. Injection Molded Parts

We accept post-production parts and components made of injection molded HDPE. These may include:

  • Prototypes or sample parts
  • Rejected quality control items
  • Off-spec molded components
  • Miscellaneous product runs

All must be HDPE and free from inserts, coatings, or other materials like rubber or aluminum.

8. Spurs and Runners

These are by-products of the injection molding process—solid waste materials formed as excess plastic during molding.

What We Accept:

  • Solid spurs, sprues, runners
  • Flash or gate trimmings

They must be:

  • 100% HDPE (no blends or filled plastics)
  • Clean and preferably boxed

This waste stream is often directly reground into usable material for future molding operations.

9. Regrind

We also accept HDPE injection molded regrind, which is ground-up plastic derived from post-industrial scrap.

Accepted types:

  • Clean HDPE regrind from totes, buckets, or pallets
  • Uniform size (ideally 3/8” or smaller)
  • Sorted by color (natural, white, black, etc.)

Regrind should be bagged, boxed, or in super sacks and free from contamination.

10. Pellets

We purchase excess HDPE pellets that are unused, overstocked, or off-spec.

Accepted sources:

  • Virgin pellets
  • Off-color or off-spec virgin pellets
  • Post-industrial recycled pellets

Pellets should be boxed, bagged, or in gaylords, and clearly labeled by type and grade.

11. Virgin Off-Spec HDPE

In addition to recycled material, we accept virgin off-spec resin—plastic that didn’t meet exact production specs but is still perfectly recyclable.

Examples include:

  • Color mismatches
  • Slightly over/under-melt flow
  • Cosmetic flaws

This high-purity material is valuable for blending with recycled resin to enhance quality.

How to Prepare HDPE Injection Molded Scrap for Pickup

To ensure the most efficient pickup and highest rebate, please follow these guidelines:

  • Sort by Material: Keep HDPE separate from other resins like PP, PET, or PVC.
  • Remove Contaminants: No metal inserts, labels, food residue, or moisture.
  • Use Gaylords or Pallets: Stack or bag items to ease handling and transportation.
  • Label Clearly: Especially important for regrind, purge, and pellet materials.

We provide pickup services for qualifying volumes and can arrange regular schedules for ongoing scrap streams.

Why Work with Seraphim Plastics?

✅ Commercial-Only Recycling Experts

We specialize exclusively in post-industrial plastics. We don’t accept residential or curbside recyclables—our focus is high-volume, clean, sorted materials from manufacturers, warehouses, and distributors.

✅ Transparent & Fair Pricing

Our pricing model is straightforward and based on resin type, cleanliness, and market demand. We offer competitive rebates and consistent communication throughout the process.

✅ Reliable Service Area Coverage

We serve businesses across multiple states, including:

✅ Closed-Loop Solutions

In many cases, our partners use recycled HDPE processed by Seraphim Plastics to remanufacture new parts, crates, or pallets—creating a sustainable, circular manufacturing ecosystem.

Industries That Benefit from HDPE Scrap Recycling

  • Automotive Manufacturing: Knock-down bins, pallets, parts
  • Warehousing & Logistics: Totes, buckets, spurs
  • Agriculture: Crates, bins, bulk containers
  • Food Processing: Regrind and buckets from production lines
  • Injection Molders: Runners, purge, reject parts
  • Distribution Centers: Broken pallets, packaging bins

If your company produces HDPE scrap during daily operations, we can help you offset disposal costs and monetize your waste stream.

Get a Free HDPE Scrap Quote Today

If your business generates excess HDPE injection molded plastic, Seraphim Plastics wants to partner with you. Our process is simple:

  1. Submit your material details
  2. We review and provide a quote
  3. We arrange pickup
  4. You get paid for your scrap

📞 Call us or 📩 Request a Quote to get started.

Fast & Easy Quote | 10,000lb Minimum

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