LDPE Recycling: iSustain Needs Your Gaylord Box Liners and Mattress Bags

At iSustain, we are proud to support mechanical and chemical recyclers in their mission to create a more circular economy. One such plastic material, Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), is especially beneficial to mechanical recyclers for its shrinking properties and is often recycled to create tubing, electrical insulation, waterproofing and more. Immediately, iSustain is in need of discarded Gaylord box liners and mattress bags.

What is LDPE Recycling?

Polyethylene plastic is the raw material that is behind the most utilized types of resins produced. LDPE is a thermoplastic made from petroleum. It is classified as a low-density plastic because it has a lower density than water. This type of plastic is used in many different applications due to its durability, flexibility, and resistance to chemicals.

Some common examples of products that are made from LDPE include:

• Plastic bags
• Plastic wrap
• Squeeze bottles
• Some toys
• Piping

Some properties of LDPE include:

• Low-density: This gives the plastic a lightweight feel.
• High impact resistance: The plastic does not shatter easily.
• High chemical resistance: The plastic is resistant to many chemicals, including acids and bases.
• Low water absorption: The plastic does not absorb water easily.

Polyethylene plastic can be used to create all kinds of plastic products: films, laminates, plastic containers and more are all becoming increasingly made by polyethylene resins. Post-consumer LDPE recycling provides resins to create products like trash bags, furniture, clothing manufacturing and more.

Two products in particular, mattress bags and Gaylord box liners are made with LDPE polyethylene plastic. Recycling your end-of-life mattress bags and Gaylord liners provides high-quality LDPE feedstock for the mechanical recycling industry. Recycling post-consumer polyethylene allows manufacturers to not only drive the circular economy but also remove their dependence on virgin resins. Driving recycling and circular processes reduces our need for virgin resin and ultimately preserves our natural resources that would have been used to make virgin resin.

Many furniture companies as well as resellers of mattresses have an overabundance of LDPE film in need of recycling. Also, many manufacturers receive materials in Gaylord liners (i.e. resin, food, powders). Without knowledge of film recycling options, many of these materials are often disposed of at a cost to the business and fill up our local landfills. Traditional recyclers sometimes struggle with these materials, as any residual product, colored films or desiccant packs prevent them from recycling. iSustain has the knowledge and experience to deliver and develop a solution to your recycling needs.

If you generate large quantities of LDPE waste, such as mattress bags and Gaylord box liners, contact iSustain at (423) 668-0111 or email us at [email protected]. Our team would be happy to arrange a pick-up of these materials from your facility, and we’d love to partner with you in finding more sustainable pathways for post-use LDPE.