Committed to excellence
Since the founding of Maine Plastics in 1983, our goals have been to maximize value and provide unparalleled service to our customers and suppliers. We have used our expertise and creativity to:
- Develop cost-effective recycling programs for companies generating post-industrial and post-commercial plastics
- Supply high quality products at substantial savings off virgin prices
- Offer comprehensive custom services including metal and paper recycling, toll processing, and certified destruction
Our company processes more than 140 million pounds (63,600 metric tons) annually. Our warehouse employees expertly utilize our state-of-the-art equipment and technology to process material and adhere to our rigorous quality control standards. Our sales and customer service staff welcome the opportunity to help you establish One-Solution Recycling Program®, source or sell challenging material, and arrange domestic and international shipments that meet your needs.
Quality Control
All material is handled, processed, and inventoried according to documented and audited quality control procedures. We adhere to ASTM standards for Izod (impact) and Melt Flow testing. Our lot control record keeping and audited procedures comply with ISO quality programs. Our in-house quality control laboratory, uncompromising quality standards, and highly trained staff enable us to guarantee that every pound you buy will meet your specifications.
Our lab equipment includes:
- Melt Indexer
- Notched Izod Testing (Impact)
- Molding Test
- Ash Oven (Filler Content)
- RoHs Testing Compliance (Banned Heavy Metals)
- Moisture Content Analyzer
- Durometer Test
Responsible Stewardship
We take seriously our responsibility to the environment, our customers and suppliers, our employees, and our community.
- We are in full CERCLA compliance with all applicable standards of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act.
- We comply with all local, state, and federal laws regarding air, water, and land quality.
- We are audited and reviewed annually by Fortune 500 companies for environmental compliance.
- Our liability and workman’s compensation coverage exceed the requirements of most companies.
- We have full cargo and transit insurance, as well as product liability coverage.
- We have a comprehensive disaster recovery plan and, with two plants in the Midwest, are prepared to meet customer and supplier demands.
- We offer CPR and AED Training to our employees.
- We support numerous community and non-profit organizations. Click here for a complete list.
- We are committed to promoting employee well-being through a safe and healthy work environment, advancement opportunities, and financial security.
- We are proud to have earned the Illinois Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award in 2003 from the Illinois Psychological Association, reflecting our innovative support programs, open door communications, company social and educational events, and workplace flexibility.
- We were named North Chicago Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year in 2003, and have won numerous awards over the years for supplier quality, reliability, and overall performance.
We also can provide the following services:
- Supply containers and drop trailers
- Take mixed loads of metals and plastics
- Handle your materials and comply with all environmental regulations
- Supply you with high-tech identification equipment to sort plastics and increase your margins
- Help train your employees to maximize revenues
- Support your efforts in the local community
Get More for Your Scrap
- Provide as much information as possible. Without disclosing proprietary information, provide either the virgin resin number and the manufacturer, or key physical data such as melt or izod. Also, describe the condition (regrind, unground, virgin, etc.), quantity, and geographic location. If you need a COD (certificate of destruction), just ask.
- Be specific with your labeling. The more information you provide, the more your plastic will be worth. “Zytel 101 natural regrind” is worth a lot more than “general purpose nylon.” And, if you think something may be contaminated, be sure to label it clearly to avoid possible mixing with clean material.
- Keep plastic families separate. Generally speaking, mixed plastics are hard to recycle and have to be separated somewhere. Usually, it is easier and cheaper to do so at the source. If separation is impossible, call us and we’ll tell you which plastics can be mixed. Quite often we can reduce a several hundred item list to a collection system consisting of fewer than a dozen gaylords.
- Don’t mix different members of the same family. For example, while it is acceptable to mix different grades of ABS in the same gaylord, you should not mix FR (flame retardant) and non-FR (non-flame retardant) grades together. The same holds true for filled and unfilled grades. Mixed extrusion grades and injection grades are recyclable, but if you want to maximize your return they should be kept separate.
- Separate by color. Clear and unpigmented (natural) materials are usually worth more than colored plastics. A good guideline is to keep the following color-classes separate within the same family of resins: natural (clear), white, black, dark mixed colors that can be turned black, and light mixed colors that can’t be turned black. In some circumstances, segregated colored plastics can yield a greater return than mixed colors.
- Recycle your purgings (lumps, drools, patties, chunks, etc.). Keep them clean and follow the above guidelines for separating resins. Purge your machines onto a clean surface, not corrugated. We can design and supply metal pans to fit your needs. Purgings containing different colors of the same material are perfectly acceptable.
- Be careful not to contaminate material when grinding. Thoroughly clean out your grinder when changing materials. Or, better yet, dedicate a grinder for each material family.
- Think heavy. More weight per truck means less freight cost per pound. This translates into higher prices paid.
- Package and transport material with care. If your material is baled, make sure the ties/straps will hold during transport. If your material is loose on a skid, make sure it is strapped down. If your material is in a gaylord, use a top to avoid possible introduction of dirt or other plastics. The gaylord should sit on a transport-worthy pallet. If you are shipping pellets or regrind, the container (gaylord, drum, etc.) should be lined. Fill all gaylords whenever possible, and when shipping, don’t put partial gaylords under full ones.
- Find out what else you can recycle. In some instances, multiple plastic assemblies can be recycled. We can design a destruction process to fulfill your requirements. Parts partially contaminated with metal inserts, labels, adhesive, foam, etc. can possibly be recycled. However, these parts should be kept separate from their “clean” counterparts. Proper labeling is essential when sending any plastic, especially if it is contaminated.
Member