Who Buys Plastic Purge? A Guide for Manufacturers
Plastic purge is one of the strangest forms of manufacturing scrap.
It can be dense, irregularly shaped, difficult to store and seemingly impossible to reuse.
But depending on resin type, cleanliness, quantity and market conditions, plastic purge can have recycling value.
If your company regularly generates purge, the better question may not be “How do we dispose of this?”
It may be:
“Who buys plastic purge?”
What Is Plastic Purge?
Purge is plastic material generated when manufacturing equipment is cleaned, started, shut down or transitioned between materials or colors.
It is commonly associated with processes such as:
- Injection molding
- Extrusion
- Blow molding
Purge can solidify into large chunks, patties, lumps and irregular pieces.
Its appearance makes it easy to classify as waste.
But underneath the shape is still polymer.
Can Plastic Purge Be Recycled?
Potentially, yes.
The recycler needs to determine what resin the purge contains and whether it can be economically processed.
Common recyclable purge streams can include materials such as:
- HDPE
- PP
- Other identifiable industrial resins
The cleaner and more consistent the stream, the easier it can be to evaluate.
What Makes Plastic Purge Valuable?
Known Resin
A recycler needs to know what polymer it is buying.
Mixed unidentified purge is significantly more difficult to market.
Clean Material
Metal is especially problematic because purge frequently requires heavy mechanical size reduction.
Keep foreign objects out.
Color
Natural, single-color and mixed-color streams may have different downstream opportunities.
Quantity
A few pieces of purge may not justify transportation.
A manufacturer producing thousands of pounds consistently is a completely different recycling opportunity.
Consistency
Recurring purge of the same known resin is generally easier to manage than unpredictable mixtures.
Should Manufacturers Grind Purge Themselves?
This should be evaluated carefully.
Purge can be extremely dense and difficult to process.
Equipment capable of handling ordinary runners may not be appropriate for large purge chunks.
Before investing in specialized processing equipment, determine whether your recycling partner can accept purge in its existing form.
How Can Manufacturers Improve Purge Recycling?
Start at the machine.
When purge is generated:
- Identify the resin.
- Put it in the correct container.
- Keep different polymers separate.
- Prevent metal contamination.
- Separate natural material when practical.
- Track approximate quantity.
- Store it where it remains clean and dry.
These simple operational decisions can determine whether material remains a viable recycling stream.
Reduce Purge Before Recycling It
Recycling is valuable, but preventing scrap is even better.
Track purge by:
- Machine
- Operator
- Product
- Resin
- Shift
- Changeover
If one process consistently generates excessive purge, the recycling data may identify an opportunity to improve production efficiency.
Remember: even when purge can be sold, your company originally paid for that resin.
The best pound of purge is often the pound you never generate.
Sell Plastic Purge to an Industrial Recycler
Seraphim Plastics works with manufacturers generating commercial quantities of post-industrial plastic, including appropriate purge streams.
If purge is accumulating at your facility, document the resin, color, quantity and location and take clear photographs.
Then contact Seraphim Plastics to determine whether the material fits its purchasing and recycling program.
A pile of purge may look like manufacturing waste.
At sufficient volume and quality, it can also represent recoverable raw material.