Plastic

Recycling

Aluminum | Plastic | Glass | Paper

Introduction

The number of plastics recycling businesses has tripled since 1990, with more than 1,700 companies handling and reclaiming post-consumer plastics, according to the American Plastics Council. Of the many grades of plastics, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and high density polyethylene (HPDE) account for more than 67 percent of post-consumer recycled plastics although recycling of polystyrene, polypropylene, and low density polyethylene (LPDE) packaging continues to increase. EPA estimates that in 2000, PET soft drink bottles had a recycling rate of 34.9 percent, while HPDE containers were recycled at a rate of 30.4 percent. In addition, more than 1 billion pounds of non-bottle post-consumer plastics were recycled in including battery casings, film and bags, crates, and x-ray film.

Why Recycle Plastic?

• Every ton of plastic bottles recycled saves about 3.8 barrels of oil

• Recycled plastic bottles are used to make hundreds of everyday products, ranging from fleece jackets and carpeting to detergent bottles and lumber for outdoor decking

• Over 80 percent of U.S. households have access to a plastics recycling program, be it curbside collection or community drop-off centers, yet, in most areas, the demand for recycled plastics exceeds the available supply.

• Studies such as the following:

NAPCOR Study on “The Environmental Impact of Soft Drink Delivery Systems” – This study found that:

• 1* When comparing the energy efficiency of like-sized PET (16-ounce), glass (16-ounce) and aluminum (12-ounce) soft drink containers, PET and aluminum containers, PET and aluminum containers are 32 percent more efficient than glass in delivering 1,000 gallons of soft drink to the consumer. 16-ounce PET bottles are equivalent to aluminum cans in terms of energy efficiency. Because of their superior packaging-to-product ratio, however, two-liter and three-liter PET bottles are 47 percent more energy efficient that 12-ounce aluminum cans and 63 percent more energy efficient than 16-ounce glass bottles

2) PET containers have the least environmental impact of all soft drink container systems in terms of the total weight of both total air emissions and total waterborne wastes

3) 16-ounce PET bottles contribute 68 percent less solid waste than 16-ounce glass by weight and are statistically equivalent to glass by volume. 16-ounce PET bottles contain 18 percent less solid waste by weight, when compared to the 12-ounce aluminum can

4) Custom PET containers for liquor, fruit juices, and salad dressing consistently consume less energy and generate fewer solid, atmospheric and waterborne wastes than like-size glass containers

The Recycled Plastics Market

The Nature of the Market

Because it is a young industry, the recycled plastics market has been volatile in recent years. After rapid growth in the early 1990s, the PET and HDPE markets slowed in 1996 due to large increases in virgin capacity but have rebounded since then. Prices for recovered plastics are closely tied to the price and availability of virgin and off-spec resin. As a result, prices for recovered and reclaimed plastics have historically been quite low in order to remain competitive. Major barriers to growth in plastics recycling include the lack of value-added markets, consistency of quality and quantity, and high transportation costs for plastics collection. In an effort to improve efficiency and reduce costs, the industry has focused on improving its processing technology to reduce contaminants and increase product quality and tailoring the processed materials to meet market specifications.

Will These Trends Continue?

According to NAPCOR, 2006 recycling rates exceeded many expectations.

References