Extrusion International 3-2020

42 Extrusion International 3/2020 RECYCLING The rapidly evolving effects from the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, global pandemic has governments and companies enacting unprecedented measures to protect the lives and livelihoods of the populace. Emer- gency social distancing and quar- antine orders to flatten the curve of transmission rates have been en- acted globally. The “non-essential” workforce is recommended, ordered in some cases, to stay from home, using technology to work remotely. Meanwhile, some essential services workers are receiving increases to their hourly rates as hazard pay. Recycling industry feels the pinch Deemed essential services in many countries, the waste and recycling industries face virus-related impacts, as collection services and practices are being altered to protect workers. Receiving recyclable materials has a high rate of interaction with the pub- lic, and the recycling process often in- volves close worker interaction. As a result, many locations around the world have temporarily halted New Sorting Technology Can Help Overcome Recycling Business Disruptions istration controls, safe work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE), such as puncture-resistant gloves and face and eye protection, to prevent worker exposure to the waste and recycle materials man- aged. To minimize worker interaction, recycling companies are adjusting business practices, such as moving to staggered collection shifts, to pre- vent virus exposure. Manual sorter repositioning and staggered breaks have been implemented for social distancing. Where sorter reposition- ing is not possible, temporary bar- riers between workers are being placed where advance safety. Strain on supply Consumer buying and recycling hab- its in Europe have seen a spike in virgin PET demand, combined with decrease return rates, taxing the recycled polyethylene terephthal- ate (rPET) market, the most widely recycled plastic in Europe. French recycling operations anticipate re- duced collection rates for polyethyl- collection of a portion or all recycla- ble materials. In the United States, Michigan and South Carolina fa- cilities have halted the collection of recycle materials placed curbside, turning to landfilling instead. In the United Kingdom, where recycling centers are not considered “essen- tial,” some councils have reduced bin collection services, while others have closed recycling entirely to prevent close contact among people and pos- sibly spreading the virus. To mitigate the inherent risks associ- ated with coronavirus, the U.S. De- partment of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued the general safe practices guidelines of frequent handwashing with soap and water, use of hand sanitizer, avoid touching the face with unwashed hands and avoid close contact with those who are sick. At the time of writing, OHSA recommended that waste agencies handle solid waste with potential or known COVID-19 contamination like any other non-contaminated waste – use typical engineering and admin- Plant design automation and technology advancements lead to increased purity rates, while requiring fewer manual sorters