4 replies to this topic

[dbehrmann]

We are  wrestling with high volumes of "waste" and currently we have the rule of thumb, if it falls on the floor, immediately throw it into unsalable waste--not suitable even for regrind.  I am unable to find where this "ruling" came from; but believe three years ago when we went down the lane of "food safety" we had a consensus that it only makes good sense not to reuse at all anything that has fallen on the floor.  I am now being challenged and would like to know if there is anything that actually states a similar rule?  Does anyone out there deal with the same issue?

 

Thank you!  

 

D. Behrmann

[APPAJI]

WE HAVE A DROP POLICY. So discard any thing which falls on floor is a good practice. You can think logically and have answer to your actions if you are doing anything else say wiping. How are you sure it will not effect Food? is the question.

REGARDS

Appaji 

[Charles.C]

We are  wrestling with high volumes of "waste" and currently we have the rule of thumb, if it falls on the floor, immediately throw it into unsalable waste--not suitable even for regrind.  I am unable to find where this "ruling" came from; but believe three years ago when we went down the lane of "food safety" we had a consensus that it only makes good sense not to reuse at all anything that has fallen on the floor.  I am now being challenged and would like to know if there is anything that actually states a similar rule?  Does anyone out there deal with the same issue?

 

Thank you!  

 

D. Behrmann

 

Hi DB,

 

You omitted to mention what kind of bottle usage / product involved.

 

In some previous related queries for direct food processing, the decision may be justifiable based on official SOPs.

 

One (obvious) defence is that the conservative option is risk-free from a safety POV.

 

Financial considerations (significant losses ?) may justify a closer look of course. Possibly also at handling techniques ?

[GMO]

I'd be a bit pragmatic with this.  What is the risk?  Is there a risk of contaminating the bottle?  If that risk is there, is it removed by cleaning?  If so, validate it, write a procedure and train it out.  If not, ensure it's rigorously banned.  The real solution is to prevent the packaging landing on the floor of course.

[FurFarmandFork]

 unsalable waste--not suitable even for regrind. 

 

 

Time for a risk assessment!

 

HDPE melt temperatures normally well exceed 100ºC, so you have little biological concerns in using this stuff for regrind. So what are the other hazards that could be introduced from the floor?

 

Chemical hazards?

Physical hazards or contamination that will pollute your resin stream and cause holes in bottles?

 

Honestly if I was running an HDPE facility I would keep the floors reasonably clean and free of dust/debris and very much consider that product for regrind. There's practically zero microbiological concerns and the only other "unknowns" would have to come from my floor, which I can control. There may be other hazards in your facility so approach cautiously, but go through a risk assessment and see what could possibly go wrong. If you can put controls in place to address those concerns then full sail ahead.