Particulate plastic solids handling apparatus and methods

A method of handling particulate plastic solids separated from a mixed plastic waste, the method comprising:

• loading onto an elongate overhead conveyor associated with an enclosed structure said particulate plastic solids received from a mixed plastic waste separation system;
• transporting with said overhead conveyor said particulate plastic solids along the length of said enclosed structure;
• and
• selectively depositing said particulate plastic solids from the overhead conveyor into at least one of (a) a plastic solids transport system and (b) at least one particulate plastic solids inventory pile at one or more locations along the length of said conveyor and within said enclosed structure, wherein said particulate solids deposited have the same composition as the composition of the particulate plastics solids loaded onto the overhead conveyor,
• wherein said particulate plastic solids comprise a PET-enriched stream comprising greater than 70% by weight polyethylene terephthalate and from 0.1% to 4% by weight halogens, and having a microorganism content of less than 109 CFU/g of said plastic solids;
• and comprising at least one of:
• (a) from 0.1% to 4% by weight polyvinyl chloride, and at least 0.1% by weight of solid materials that do not phase change below 270° C. and 1 atm;
• or
• (b) from 0.1% to 4% by weight halogens;
• or
• (c) from 0.1% to 10% by weight polyvinyl chloride, and a moisture content of less than 4% by weight;
• or
• (d) a nylon content of not more than 1% by weight;
• or
• (e) a multilayered plastics content of not more than 10% by weight.