How to Recycle

Durable, Sustainable and Easy to Recycle

As HDPE is one of the most easily recycled plastics, nearly all recycling centers worldwide accept it. The process is simple: the plastic is collected and separated by grade, debris is removed, and the pieces are rigorously cleaned and sterilized. As HDPE takes to sterilization well, this ensures that the plastic is safe to recycle and reuse for future products. To create new products, the cleaned plastic is shredded and melted down into granules or pellets for future use.

As OTW is committed to the responsible design, manufacturing, and use of all products, our products are manufactured in such a way that they are 100% recyclable. Waste reduction protocols in our manufacturing processes ensure that OTW’s impact on natural resources is reduced and waste generation is minimized.

ESE World B.V. created a test that demonstrated that HDPE can be recycled at least ten times – it found that injection molding (one of our manufacturing processes) and shredding (recycling) techniques do not alter the materials’ properties throughout their lifetimes. Therefore, plastic can be used multiple times at the same level of application. A percentage of new HDPE is frequently incorporated to maintain strength, but the majority is generally renewed material. As we use the same process in our manufacturing, the future of plastics recycling and our products is bright.

This, along with consumers correctly recycling our HDPE barricades when they reach the end of their lifecycle, ensures that their environmental impact is greatly decreased.

How to recycle OTW plastic barricades

To recycle our plastic barricades, we suggest first ensuring that they are as clean as possible.

If a barricade has been in use outside, chances are good that it has accumulated debris. Hosing each barricade down, inside and out, will ensure that all detritus is removed. If your barricades have been used exclusively inside, this might not be as much of a concern.

Either way, ensuring your HDPE barricade is clean is one of the best ways you can prep it for recycling. Let them dry completely, as liquid can also contaminate a recycling load (just like food or leftover product), and load them up.

While barricades can’t generally be recycled curbside in most states, they can still be dropped off at many recycling centers around the country. Start by calling your local recycling location to ask if they accept large items such as HDPE barricades, and, if so, where they should be dropped off. You might need to look for a “bulky rigid plastics” sign when you arrive, as that is where many recycling centers accept both large #2 HDPE and #5 PP items. If they do, you’re good to go! If your local center doesn’t accept bulky items, however, they can likely direct you to a center or company that does.

Companies like Triumvirate Environmental provide industrial recycling and waste management services for many businesses in the medical, education, life sciences, and manufacturing fields. Using a third party that specializes in waste management and sustainability initiatives can reduce unnecessary waste and help plastic items find new life. If your organization is local to a company like this, it is an excellent way to not only recycle your large items but also commit to a standard of sustainability you might not have achieved otherwise!