Compostable Plastics Identification
Effortlessly detect and separate compostable plastics with trinamiX PAL One – your portable solution for clean waste streams and compliant recycling.
Why Compostable Plastics Need Special Attention
Compostable plastics such as PLA and starch-based blends are increasingly used in food packaging, agricultural films, and disposable items. But if they end up in mechanical recycling streams, they contaminate recyclable materials like PET or PP.
Regulations like EN 13432 define what counts as compostable – but ensuring correct sorting in practice requires reliable on-the-spot detection.
How the trinamiX PAL One Helps
With the optional Compostable Plastics application on the PAL One, you can:
- Detect PLA and compostable blends quickly and reliably
- Separate compostables from conventional plastics
- Reduce contamination in recycling facilities
- Improve conformity with D4R (Design for Recycling) principles
The device identifies compostable materials using chemometric models based on their NIR spectrum – no need for labels or visual cues.
Use Cases
- Waste sorters: Ensure compostable trays and cups are directed to the correct stream
- Packaging manufacturers: Verify raw material compliance in production
- Retailers or food services: Check packaging used in takeaway and bio-waste bins
- Municipal waste handlers: Improve compost facility input quality
Product Highlights
- Fast: Identification in seconds
- Mobile: Operates wirelessly via Bluetooth®
- Secure: Data stored in encrypted BASF cloud (Azure)
- Integrated: Track and analyze results in the Customer Portal
The PAL One is slightly larger than a smartphone and ready for field or lab use. All measurements are non-destructive and require no sample prep.
Expand Your Recycling Confidence
Misplaced compostables lead to rejected bales, process inefficiencies, and higher downstream costs. With trinamiX, you gain visibility into your materials and the power to sort smarter.
Request a Demo or Quote
Get in touch to learn how the PAL One and compostable plastics app can improve your QA and material flow.