Post consumer scrap film recycling process

A method for processing post consumer scrap film into a near-virgin quality blown film product, the method comprising:

• providing one of a supply of recyclable linear low density polyethylene plastic film and a supply of recyclable low density polyethylene plastic film;
• removing metal from the supply of plastic film;
• shredding the supply of plastic film after metal removal, wherein the plastic film is torn exposing surface area of film;
• discharging the shredded plastic film through a filter screen to a water bath;
• agitating the water in the water bath to wet all the surfaces of the shredded plastic film;
• removing the plastic film from the water bath;
• wet grinding the plastic film;
• washing the ground plastic film in a rotating friction washer, wherein contaminates are removed from the plastic film;
• separating at least two different types of the washed ground plastic film in a hydrocyclone, wherein lighter plastic film is separated from heavier plastic film;
• washing lighter plastic film in a postwash sink float water bath, with the film subjected to mechanical and hydraulic agitation;
• drying the washed ground plastic film;
• and
• compacting the dry ground plastic film without addition of water into granulated objects of near-virgin quality plastic film, wherein the granulated objects are one of stored and used as raw material in a blown film operation.

A method for processing post consumer scrap film into a near-virgin quality blown film product, the method comprising:

• providing one of a supply of recyclable linear low density polyethylene plastic film and a supply of recyclable low density polyethylene plastic film;
• removing metal from the supply of plastic film;
• shredding the supply of plastic film after metal removal, wherein the plastic film is torn exposing surface area of film;
• discharging the shredded plastic film through a filter screen to a water bath;
• agitating the water in the water bath to wet all the surfaces of the shredded plastic film, the water bath including a surfactant additive, a detergent, an oxidizer, and a bleaching agent;
• removing the plastic film from the water bath;
• wet grinding the plastic film;
• washing the ground plastic film in a rotating friction washer, wherein contaminates are removed from the plastic film;
• separating at least two different types of the washed ground plastic film in a hydrocyclone, wherein lighter plastic film is separated from heavier plastic film;
• washing lighter plastic film in a postwash sink float water bath with the film subjected to mechanical and hydraulic agitation;
• drying the washed ground plastic film so the film contains not more than 10%, by weight, water content;
• and
• compacting the dry ground plastic film without addition of water into granulated objects of near-virgin quality plastic film, wherein the granulated objects are one of stored and used as raw material in a blown film operation.