Reclaimer:

An organization that further processes recyclable materials. When the reclaimer finishes processing, the material is ready to be remanufactured into a new product. Reclaimers sell post-consumer plastic pellets or flake to product manufacturers. Some reclaimers also manufacture end products. (Waste Reduction Strategies for Rural Communities, prepared by the MaCC Group, with support from Tennessee Valley Authority, March 1994).

Recovered Material:

Materials and by-products that have been recovered (or diverted) from solid waste. It does not include those materials and by-products generated from and commonly reused within an original manufacturing process (industrial scrap). (Standard Classification for Recycled post-consumer plastic Polyethylene Film Sources for Molding and Extrusion Materials, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), April 1994).

Recovery:

The process of obtaining materials or energy resources from solid waste. (Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, 245.101).

Recycling:

The series of activities by which discarded materials are collected, sorted, processed and converted into raw materials and used in the production of new products.

Recycling Markets:

Individuals or businesses that purchase post-consumer plastic and/or post-industrial recyclable materials. Markets specify what kind of recyclables they purchase, what price the material is worth and in what form the material is needed. Recycling markets for plastics fall into two broad categories: See Handlers and Reclaimers. (Waste Reduction Strategies for Rural Communities, prepared by the MaCC Group, with support from Tennessee Valley Authority, March 1994).

Redemption Center:

A centrally located depot to which consumers bring recyclables that provides payment for delivered materials. (The Blueprint for Plastics Recycling, The Council for Solid Waste Solutions, 1991).

Resin:

Any of a class of solid or semi-solid organic products of natural or synthetic origin, generally of high molecular weight with no definite melting point. Most resins are polymers. (Plastics Engineering Handbook of The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., edited by Michael L. Berins, 1991).

Resource Conservation:

A wide array of activities that include reducing the energy consumed and pollution generated during manufacture and over the useful life of a product; extending the life of material used to make a product through reuse and recycling; reducing the amount of material needed to make a product initially; utilizing options available for recovering value from materials when they are ultimately discarded, such as energy recovery and fuel pellets. (American Plastics Council, Washington, DC, 1996).

Responsible Care:

The chemical industry's health, safety and environmental performance improvement initiative launched in 1988 by the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA). Developed to respond to public concerns about the manufacture and use of chemicals, CMA members commit to support a continuing effort to improve the industry's responsible management of chemicals. (1994-95 Responsible Care Progress Report, Chemical Manufacturers Association).

Rigid Plastic Container:

A formed or molded plastic container that serves as a package, and maintains its shape when empty and unsupported. (How To Develop a Viable post-consumer plastic Handling Business, APC, 1993).