Title 40—Protection of Environment--Volume 1
PART 238—DEGRADABLE PLASTIC RING CARRIERS
§ 238.10   Purpose and applicability.
The purpose of this part is to require that plastic ring carriers be made of degradable materials as described in §§ 238.20 and 238.30. The requirements of this part apply to all processors and importers of plastic ring carriers in the United States as defined in § 238.20.
§ 238.20   Definitions.
For the purpose of this part:
Percent elongation at break means the percent increase in length of the plastic material caused by a tensile load. Percent elongation at break shall be calculated by dividing the extension at the moment of rupture of the specimen by the initial gage length of the specimen and multiplying by 100.
Processor means the persons or entities that produce ring carriers ready for use as beverage carriers.
Ring carrier means any plastic ring carrier device that contains at least one hole greater than 1 3/4 inches in diameter which is made, used, or designed for the purpose of packaging, transporting, or carrying multipackaged cans or bottles.
§ 238.30   Requirement.
(a) No processor or person shall manufacture or import, in bulk, ring carriers intended for use in the United States unless they are designed and manufactured so that the ring carriers degrade to the point of 5 percent elongation at break, when tested in accordance with ASTM D-3826-91, “Standard Practice for Determining Degradation End Point in Degradable Polyolefins Using a Tensile Test”, after the ring carrier is exposed to, either:
(1) 250 light-hours of UV in accordance with ASTM D-5208-91,” Standard Practice for Operating Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) and Condensation Apparatus for Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics”, using cycle A; or
(2) 35 days, during June and July, to marine conditions in a location below the latitude 26 degrees North, in continental United States waters.
(b) The incorporation by reference of ASTM D-3826-91, “Standard Practice for Determining Degradation End Point in Degradable Polyolefins Using a Tensile Test”, and ASTM D-5208-91, “Standard Practice for Operating Fluorescent Ultraviolet (UV) and Condensation Apparatus for Exposure of Photodegradable Plastics,” was approved by the director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies are available from the American Society of Testing and Materials, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Copies may be inspected at the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Docket Information Center, (5305), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460 or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. These materials are incorporated as they exist on the date of the approval and notice of any change in these materials will be published in the Federal Register.