In the first part of this series, I described five general types of void fill –

1. Loose fill materials
2. Industrial papers
3. Flexible foams and bubble material
4. Expandable foam
5. Inflatable air pillows

Now let’s look at the qualities you may need from your void fill material, and see how the various options stack up.

Surface protection. For glass, metal, and scratch-sensitive plastics, polypropylene (PP) foams are the least abrasive option, followed by polyethylene (PE) foams and bubble. Industrial papers, depending on the grade, may also work.

Dust free. Loose fill, whether polystyrene or one of the various biodegradable varieties, are prone to flaking. Industrial papers sometimes contain dust as a result of the trimming process. For shipping things such as pharmaceutical or personal health care products, look in other directions for void fill. (more…)

Ever wonder what happens to your aluminum cans, food containers, corrugated boxes, and other recyclables after they are picked up at the curb?

We did, and not long ago got a tour of Waste Management’s recylcing facility on Chicago’s South Side. This facility happens to be one of the largest in the country. Here’s an inside look.

Recycled materials are delivered in a transfer trailer –



Unsorted materials are dumped into a big pile, which looks surprisingly neat –



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