SB/T 11260-2025 in English

Standard Overview and Development Background

SB/T 11260-2025, "Guidelines for Waste Plastic Recycling," is a domestic trade industry standard issued by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and will officially come into effect on January 1, 2026. This standard, spearheaded by the China Material Recycling Association and jointly drafted by 16 organizations, including Jiangxi Ruiju Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. and Xiamen Luhai Environmental Protection Co., Ltd., is a key technical specification for waste plastic recycling in my country.

With the continued growth of plastic consumption in my country, waste plastic recycling has become a crucial component of the circular economy. According to statistics, my country's waste plastic generation exceeded 60 million tons in 2023, but the standardized recycling rate still has significant room for improvement. The development of this standard aims to establish a unified technical system for the classified recycling of waste plastics, improve recycling efficiency and resource utilization, and promote standardized development in the industry.

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Scope of Application and Exclusions

This standard guides the classified collection and quality grading of waste plastics, providing technical guidance for recycling practitioners and businesses. The standard clearly defines an exclusion: it does not apply to waste plastics listed on the national hazardous waste list and biodegradable plastics. This provision demonstrates the scientific and targeted nature of the standard's development, ensuring that different types of plastics are handled appropriately.

Scope of application	Specific content	Application scenarios
Applicable objects	Various types of waste plastic products and plastic materials	Recycling enterprises, utilization enterprises, trading markets
Core content	Classification and recycling guidance, material identification, quality grading	Sorting process arrangement, transaction pricing reference
Exclusion scope	Plastics on the hazardous waste list, degradable plastics	Special treatment channels

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Detailed explanation of the waste plastic classification system

The standard establishes a classification system based on resin composition, categorizing common waste plastics into 19 main categories, covering mainstream plastics such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate. The classification method follows GB/T 37547 to ensure consistency with existing standards.

Application Characteristics of Major Plastic Categories

High-density polyethylene is primarily used in products such as daily chemical packaging and turnover boxes; polypropylene is commonly found in products such as lunch boxes and bumpers; and polyethylene terephthalate is widely used in beverage bottles and polyester fibers. Each plastic type has unique physical and chemical properties that determine its recycling value and treatment process.

Plastic categories	Main application areas	Recycling value	Processing difficulties
PET	Beverage bottles, textiles	High	Label separation, color sorting
HDPE	Daily chemical packaging, fishing nets	High	Density close to water, difficult to sort
PP	Auto parts, home appliances	Medium and high	Poor thermal stability, easy to age
PVC	Building materials, pipes, doors and windows	Medium	Chlorine treatment, thermal stability

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Material Identification Method System

The standard establishes a hierarchical material identification method system, prioritizing product labeling, followed by appearance identification and empirical judgment, and finally instrumental analysis. This progressive identification strategy ensures both accuracy and economical operation.

Identification Method Selection Process

First Level: Directly read the product label, which is the fastest and most accurate method; Second Level: Use simple methods such as sensory identification and combustion identification; Third Level: When the above methods are unable to determine the identity, use precision instrumental methods such as thermal analysis and X-ray fluorescence identification.

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Analysis of the Quality Grading Standard

The standard establishes a three-tier quality grading system based on resin content, other waste plastics content, and impurity content, providing a clear basis for quality evaluation in the waste plastics trade. The grading indicators are scientifically and rationally set, fully considering the technical feasibility of the actual recycling process.

Quality Grade	Resin Content Requirements	Other Plastic Content	Impurity Content	Applicable Scenarios
First Level	≥95%	≤3%	≤2%	Raw Materials for High-End Recycled Products
Second Level	90-95%	3-6%	2-4%	General Recycled Products
Third Level	85-90%	6-9%	4-6%	Low-end products or fillers

Moisture content, as a reference factor in transaction pricing, is divided into three grades: excellent (≤7%), good (7-11%), and acceptable (11-15%). This regulation reflects the standard's full consideration of actual transaction needs.

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Test Methods and Sampling Specifications

The standard appendix provides detailed test methods, including determination of resin content, impurity content, and moisture content. Test sampling is carried out in accordance with GB/T 2828.1 and GB/T 2547 to ensure the representativeness and accuracy of the test results.

Key Testing Technology Highlights

Resin content is determined using a muffle furnace calcination method at 700°C±5°C to ensure complete decomposition of the plastic. Moisture determination is performed by drying to constant weight at 80±2°C, offering simple operation and reliable results. Tensile strength is determined according to GB/T 1040.1, providing a basis for evaluating the mechanical properties of recycled plastics.

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Standard Implementation Recommendations

Based on the standard's content, the following implementation recommendations are provided to relevant parties:

Implementation Recommendations for Recycling Enterprises

Establish a standardized sorting process and set up sorting stations according to the classification catalog; equip necessary testing equipment, such as electronic balances and drying ovens; establish a quality grade identification system to ensure transaction transparency; and strengthen employee training to enhance material identification capabilities.

Utilize Corporate Procurement Recommendations

Clearly define quality grade requirements in procurement contracts; establish an incoming raw material testing system; select appropriate quality grades based on product requirements; and establish long-term partnerships with suppliers to ensure consistent raw material quality.

Management Recommendations for Regulatory Authorities

Incorporate standards into the industry regulatory system; conduct standard promotion and training; establish an industry quality monitoring mechanism; and promote the alignment of standards with relevant policies, such as recycled product certification and green procurement.

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Technological Evolution and Development Trends

The release of SB/T 11260-2025 marks a significant step towards standardization and regularization in my country's waste plastics recycling industry. Compared to previous standards, this standard significantly enhances the level of classification refinement, quality evaluation system, and testing methods.

In the future, waste plastics recycling technology will develop towards intelligent and sophisticated technologies. Automatic sorting technologies, near-infrared recognition technology, and big data quality traceability systems will be more widely used in the industry. This standard provides a basic framework for the development of these technologies and has important forward-looking significance.

Through the implementation of this standard, it is expected to significantly improve the level of waste plastic recycling in my country, promote the development of a plastic circular economy, and make positive contributions to achieving the goals of carbon peak and carbon neutrality.