Big bags recycling
The recycling of PP big bags represents another very interesting field of plastic recycling. This resource has still not been completely exploited, due to the several difficulties encountered by recyclers in the treatment of these products.
The main problems occurring in the recycling of big bags are similar to those encountered in fiber recycling and are characterized by the difficulty in the exact analysis of contaminants.
Actually, in addition to the most commonly known application of big bags, for the usage and storage of inert materials (plastic, civil industry, etc.), there are many industries in which their use is extensive. For example, in the food/agricultural field (sugar, flour and others) and in the chemical industry, in which the presence of potentially toxic and dangerous contaminants is obviously an issue.
SOREMA has for a long time been collaborating with industries, carrying out tests for specific types of plastic bags entering the recycling system. This long experience allows SOREMA to propose proper solutions, tailored to the specific needs of the customers, to correctly treat these wastes. A high efficiency of the process is guaranteed.
It is evident that the above-mentioned possibility of the presence of toxic contaminants has a great impact in water treatment. The inclusion in the recycling plant of a accurate water treatment process must necessarily be considered and designed appropriately
Big bags are also known as Raffia bags, or flexible intermediate bulk containers (FIBC), they are made from fabric designed for containing dry products such as inorganic, organic , and plastic granules. They are usually made with woven polypropylene. Their diameter is usually around 110 cm and their height ranges from 100 to 200 cm.
The use of big bags started in the 1940s, when they were realized in PVC and were mostly employed in the rubber industry. In the 1960s the material with which they are manufactured was changed to polypropylene, which was beginning to be extensively used in different fields.
Although Raffia bags are used primarily for transport and storage, they have also found application in the creation of flood barriers.
The use of bulk bags has been increasing noticeably in the past years. It is estimated that about 250 million tons of bags are employed globally every year to store and transport products. Development of big bags for the transport of fluid products is also under way. The extremely high volume of FIBCs used is an important indicator of the significant opportunities that lie in the recycling market.