Recycling Rate for PET Containers Hits 24.6% in 2007
Date: December 4, 2008
Source: National Association for PET Container Resources
The National Association for PET Container Resources and the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers announced that 1.396 billion pounds of PET bottles were collected for recycling in the United States last year, the highest PET container collection volume recorded to date. Additionally, the collection level is a 10 percent increase from the prior year.
The increase in collection pushed the PET container recycling rate to 24.6 percent, the fourth year in a row the report showed an increase in the PET recycling rate.
"We’re pleased to partner with NAPCOR on this important report," said Bill O’Grady, chairman of APR and president of Talco Plastics, noting that the 2007 report marks the third year of this partnership. "APR is committed to increasing the recycling of PET and to supporting the use of products manufactured with recycled PET."
Year Total U.S. Bottles Collected (mm lbs.) Bottles on U.S. Shelves (mm lbs.) Gross Recycling Rate 1996 697.2 2,198 31.7% 1997 691 2,551 27.1% 1998 745 3,006 24.8% 1999 771 3,250 23.7% 2000 769 3,445 22.3% 2001 834 3,768 22.1% 2002 797 4,007 19.9% 2003 841 4,292 19.6% 2004 1,003 4,637 212.6% 2005 1,170 5,075 23.1% 2006 1,272 5,424 23.5% 2007 1,396 5,683 24.6%
The report also details the end-uses for a record 900 million pounds of recycled PET used in domestic manufacturing applications, including fiber for carpet and apparel, strapping, sheet, film, food and nonfood containers.
"It is encouraging to see another increase in the volume of containers collected in 2007 and in the PET recycling rate," said Tom Busard, NAPCOR chairman and VP, Global Procurement and Material Systems, Plastipak Packaging, Inc. "We are committed to working with our industry partners to promote and encourage the recycling of PET containers to meet the increased demand from the manufacturing applications that use recycled PET. The use of recycled feedstock supports a more sustainable, energy-efficient manufacturing chain with reduced greenhouse gas emissions."
More information about these two trade organizations and the full 2007 Report on Post Consumer PET Container Recycling Activity" can be accessed by clicking on the following link -- NAPCOR 207 Report
Thursday, December 4, 2008
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