Developed by the State of Wisconsin
SCOPE:
Low density/linear low-density polyethylene can liners manufactured with a minimum recycled contentThe portion of a product that is made from materials diverted from the waste stream, usually stated as a percentage by weight. of 10% post-consumer materials.
CLASSIFICATION:
Liners shall be manufactured from low density or linear low-density polyethylene, or a blend of low/linear low-density polyethylene. Coextrusion, or layering, with other polyethylene resins is also acceptable. Liner material is assumed to be colored, or opaque, because it is believed that clear bags are not generally available with post-consumer recycled content.
This specification does not require minimum bag thickness. Liners shall be categorized as light, medium, heavy, extra-heavy, and extra-extra heavy duty, based on ASTMASTM is a developer of voluntary consensus standards that promote public health and safety and contribute to the reliability of materials, products, and services. performance standards. Procedures will be outlined under ÒTESTINGÓ for customer field tests and for independent laboratory testing.
Each mil thickness shown below was used for the purpose of determining appropriate performance standards only:
| Light duty | 1.0 mil |
| Medium duty | 1.5 mil |
| Heavy duty | 2.0 mil |
| Extra heavy duty | 3.0 mil |
| Extra extra heavy duty | 4.0 mil |
APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS:
The following documents, or their latest revision, shall be referenced for performance requirements and for testing purposes:
| ASTM D 882-95A | Tensile Strength |
| ASTM D 1922-94A | Elmendorf Tear Resistance |
| ASTM D 1709-91 | Dart Drop Test |
| ASTM D 5033-90 | Standards Relating to the Proper Use of Recycled Plastic |
Source: American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), 1916 Race St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-1187
Commercial Item Description AA 1668C, Static Load Capacity Test
Source: U.S. General Services Administration
RECYCLED CONTENT:
From ASTM D 5033-90
- 3.1.9 recovered material, n - materials and by-products that have been recovered or diverted from solid waste, but not including those materials and by-products generated from, and commonly reused within, an original manufacturing process.
- 3.1.7 post-consumer materials, n - those products generated by a business or consumer that have served their intended end uses, and that have been separated or diverted from solid waste for the purpose of collection, recycling, and disposition.
- Based on these ASTM definitions of terms, the minimum recovered material content shall be 10% post-consumer materials.
- Awarded vendors may be asked to certify the purchase or use of recycled materials by producing copies of invoices, purchase orders or alternate documents demonstrating that purchases have occurred. The contractA solemn agreement between parties, usually written, with binding legal and moral force, usually exchanging goods or services for money or other consideration. administrator will determine the extent to which certification must be done.
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS:
| Property | Test Method | Light duty | Medium duty | Heavy duty | X-heavy duty | XX-heavy duty | Units |
| Weight capacity | GSA AA1668C | 15 | 25 | 45 | 55 | 75 | lbs. |
| 5' Drop test | NSF 31 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | lbs. |
| Dart Impact-Method A | ASTM D 1709 | 50 | 75 | 150 | 200 | 250 | grams |
| Tensile strength MD | ASTM D 882 | 1700 | 2500 | 4000 | 5000 | 6000 | Psi. |
| Elmendorf tear | ASTM D 1922 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 | 300 | grams |
TECHNICAL DATA:
Bidders must submit manufacturer's technical data sheets with copies of test results that show compliance with the performance requirement above, as well as the case weight of each contract item with their bids. Any subsequent product change by the awarded vendor is subject to negotiation and approval by the contract administrator. It is the responsibility of vendors to inform the contract administrator of any subsequent change in packaged product weight due to changes in packaging procedures. Ordering agencies will be instructed to routinely check the case weight and to use case weight as an initial step in any problem resolution process. It is essential that this information remain accurate.
The State will accept in-house test results establishing the above performance requirements are met with submission of the bid. However, the contractor must submit test results from an independent, accredited laboratory upon notification of award. The State will recognize laboratories listed in the A2LA 1998 Directory. This is a publication of the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, 5301 Buckeystown Pike, Suite 350, Frederick, MD 21704-8307. Telephone: (301) 644-3248.
PRODUCT TESTING:
Customer field use testing:
- GSA Static Load Capacity Test: All types of bag when filled with charcoal briquettes or wood chips of 18-lbs./cubic foot density or water to the weight capacity specified above, shall be lifted from the trash can without any tear and undue elongation and be hung, as per GSA AA 1668C test method, for a minimum of sixty (60) seconds. Any spillage of contents will constitute failure of the tested bag. Nine out of ten bags must pass this test.
- Five-Foot Drop Test: All types of bags when filled to the weight capacity specified above shall be required to hold enclosed contents when lifted from the top and dropped from a height of 5 feet onto a finished concrete surface. Any excessive tears in material or seam failure causing spillage of enclosed contents shall constitute failure of the tested bag. Four out of five bags must pass this test.
- Failure of field tests may necessitate laboratory testing by an independent laboratory to determine whether or not liners meet the performance requirements referenced in this specification. Costs for such testing will be borne by the vendor whose product is being tested.
CONSTRUCTION:
Required sizes will be determined by the contract administrator, and are shown elsewhere in this bid document. Bag dimensions shall be outside dimensions, inclusive of seals or seams. Up to size 24 x 32 the dimension tolerance is ± 1/2 inch in all directions. For bags larger than 24 x 32, the dimension tolerance is ± 1 inch in all directions.
If a particular color is necessary, the contract administrator will determine colors required. If clear bags are required, the contract administrator may specify a different recycled content while maintaining the same performance standards.
Liners shall be uniform in color, texture, finish, and other physical properties. They shall be free from pinholes, tears, cuts, or extraneous matter, which might impair their usefulness. Perforations at open end of liner shall be clean so that liner can be readily opened by hand without crimping.
For more information, contact:
Dan Wehrman
State of Wisconsin
608/267-6922
dan.wehrman@doa.state.wi.us
Products containing hazardous chemicals can pose health risks to employees and the public, as well as threaten the environment. In addition, hazardous products often require special and costly waste disposal methods. Buy products that are labeled with none of the following signal words or those with the lowest level of hazard possible (but that still get the job done).
- Caution: mild to moderate hazard
- Warning: moderate hazard
- Danger: corrosive, extremely flammable, or highly toxic
- Poison: highly toxic
If less-hazardous alternatives are not readily available, use the least amount of a hazardous product needed to accomplish a task. Use up all of the product before throwing the container or packaging away.
Reducing energy use is important because most energy production contributes to problems such as carbon dioxide emissions (tied to global warming), mercury releases, acid rain, volatile organic compounds, and nuclear waste. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy developed the Energy Star label to help purchasers identify energy-efficient products. These products reduce utility bills and help the environment.
Recycled-content products save energy and resources, while also keeping waste out of landfills and incinerators. Recycled-content products can be made with post-consumer content, pre-consumer content, or a mix of both. Products made with post-consumer recycled content support our recycling programs at home and at work. If people do not buy products with post-consumer recycled content, manufacturers will no longer want the paper, cans, glass, or plastic we separate from trash. Pre-consumer content comes primarily from manufacturer scrap, and as such does not directly support such recycling efforts.
Minnesota generates over 5 million tons of municipal solid waste annually, and this amount is increasing every year. Much of this waste comes from disposable and over-packaged products. Preventing waste can conserve natural resources and avoid the need to build new, expensive waste disposal facilities. You prevent waste when:
- Reducing the amount of material you buy to accomplish any task;
- Reusing a product in its original form; or
- Using repairable, refillable, or durable products.
VOCs evaporate ("volatilize") easily at room temperature and often have a sharp smell. They are contained in many products, such as office equipment, adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, manufactured wood products, paints, solvents, pesticides, and cleaning products. Some VOCs can cause cancer in certain situations, especially when they are concentrated indoors. When VOCs hit sunlight, they create ozone, an air pollutant harmful to both people and plants. Many low-VOC versions of products reduce risks to human health and the environment.
Less than 1% of the Earth's water is available for human consumption. There is no "new" water on Earth. Dry spells have reminded us that our water supply can be threatened - even in the Land of 10,000 Lakes - resulting in watering bans in some municipalities. Choosing products and services that conserve water, such as automatic flushers and low-flow faucets and toilets, can conserve this vital resource while reducing water and sewer bills.
What happens to a product after we use it? Some materials cannot go in the trash because they are hazardous in some way and therefore need separate - and sometimes expensive - special management. Some products are more easily recycled than others that do the same job. Making wiser buying choices can prevent a disposal concern at the end of a product's useful life, keep hazardous materials out of the environment, and expand options for recycling and reuse.
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Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guide published by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board, 4/00. The SWMCB includes members from the Minnesota metropolitan counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington, with ex-officio members from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Last Revised April 12, 2008 - 9:18pm