STATE OF WISCONSIN
STATE BUREAU OF PROCUREMENT
SPECIFICATION
LOW DENSITY, LINEAR LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE CAN LINERS
SCOPE:
Low density/linear low density polyethylene can liners manufactured with a
minimum recycled content of 10% postconsumer 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 postconsumer recycled content.
This specification does not require minimum bag thickness. Liners shall be
categorized as light, medium, heavy, extra-heavy, and extra-extra heave duty,
based on ASTM performance standards. Procedures will be outlined under
"TESTING" for customer field tests and for independent laboratory testing.
APPLICABLE
DOCUMENTS:
The following documents, or their latest revision, shall be referenced for
performance requirements and for testing purposes:
ASTM D 882-95A
ASTM D 1922-94A
ASTM D 1709-91
ASTM D 5033-90
Tensile Strength
Elmendorf Tear Resistance
Dart Drop Test
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: US 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 postconsumer materials, n - those products generated by a
business or consumer that have serviced 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% postconsumer 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 contract
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 or sticking.