Pellet Transport and Packaging

Hopper car and hopper truck cleaning, loading, storage and unloading present special resin handling challenges.

Cleaning Empty Hopper Cars and Trucks

Use air lance to make total pellet removal easier.
Ensure hopper car and truck cleaning areas have wastewater collection and pellet filtration systems installed.
Recover all pellets from wash water.
Recycle, resell or dispose of collected pellets properly.

Operate the conveying system properly to avoid clogging and necessitating the opening of lines.
If a line must be opened to clear blockage, anticipate the potential for pellet loss and always place a catch pan or tarp under the connection.
Remove any spilled pellets from the top of the car/truck before leaving the containment area – residual pellets will fall to the ground as cars are moved outside the plant.

Close all outlet caps properly before cars/trucks are moved (and request customers to do the same when returning empties).
Apply seals on all outlet caps (1/8″ stranded steel cable or its equivalent).
Design or modify loading systems so that transfer lines can be completely emptied, with any residual resin being discharged into a container after loading is completed.

Consider exposure to vandalism when selecting sites.
Establish security procedures as necessary (e.g. fencing and lighting).
Advise companies to report any incidents (e.g. shippers, railroads, trucking companies and processors).

Contain any possible spill during hook-up by placing a catch pan under the unloading valve before opening.
Purge unloading tubes within containment area.
Keep area swept up or vacuumed.
Consider installing connecting hoses equipped with valves that will close automatically when the connection is broken. Clogged hoses, material bridging in outlets, etc., can require unloading lines to be opened, which presents the risk of spillage.
Anticipate the potential for pellet loss before opening the line.
Place pellet disposal cans at rail yards for loading and unloading.
Have a catch pan or tarp ready to catch pellets.
Immediately clean up and properly dispose of any spilled pellets.
Surges in unloading lines can cause pellets to be vented into the environment. To prevent this, install a bag house, filter bag assembly or other control device at the unloading system vent.

Conduct sampling only in areas protected by containment equipment.
Review procedures for taking samples to eliminate any possible spillage.
Use wide-mouth containers or poly-bags for samples.
Use a funnel collection system to effectively channel pellets into containers.
Sampling from unloading tubes:
- Place a catch pan or heavy duty tarp under outlet before opening to catch any spills. (Several commercial devices have been developed specifically for preventing spills during sampling.)
Sampling from top hatches:
- Exercise extra caution to avoid spillage, which can also pose a slipping hazard.
- Close hatches and apply cable seals to prevent access by vandals.