3915 - Waste, parings and scrap, of plastics:

This HTS category, 3915, encompasses waste, parings, and scrap materials derived from plastics. It is intended for materials that are no longer in their original manufactured form and are intended for reprocessing or disposal. This includes offcuts from manufacturing processes, rejected items, and used plastic articles that have reached the end of their useful life. The defining characteristic for inclusion is that the material is fundamentally plastic and has been rendered unusable for its original purpose.

Distinguishing HTS 3915 from its sibling categories within Chapter 39 requires focusing on the state of the material. Unlike headings that cover manufactured plastic articles or specific plastic resins in primary forms, HTS 3915 specifically addresses discarded or residual plastic materials. Its siblings might cover items like finished plastic goods (e.g., Chapter 95 for toys) or specific unworked plastic resins (e.g., headings within Chapter 39 that predate 3915).

The subcategories within HTS 3915 provide further refinement based on the specific type of polymer from which the waste, parings, or scrap originated. This allows for more granular classification and often reflects different recycling streams and potential end uses. For instance, waste derived from polymers of ethylene (like polyethylene) is distinguished from waste generated from polymers of styrene or vinyl chloride, as each polymer type may have unique reprocessing requirements and market values. The final subcategory, "Of other plastics," serves as a catch-all for waste materials not specifically enumerated in the preceding subheadings.