US' PET recycling rate increases for 7th straight year

The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR), and the PET Resin Association (PETRA) jointly released the "2010 Report on Post Consumer PET Container Recycling Activity" on October 12.

According to the report, in 2010, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container recycling rate was 29%, representing the seventh straight year that the US' recycling rate has increased. Total PET collected for recycling was also the highest to date, as was the use of recycled PET in end-use applications, at over 1.5 and 1 billion pounds respectively.

"NAPCOR is pleased to report these consistent increases in the PET recycling rate, year over year, and is committed to building on this trend," said Tom Busard, NAPCOR Chairman and Vice President, Global Procurement and Material Systems, Plastipak Packaging, Inc. "PET recycling and use of recycled PET in new products and packaging are integral components of what PET offers as a sustainable package; it's important to NAPCOR to foster and facilitate this essential component of the PET package premise."

The 2010 report also stated that a record 1,002 million pounds of recycled PET were utilized in manufacturing applications, reflecting increases over 2009 in Sheet & Film, Food & Beverage Bottles, Strapping, and Fiber end-use categories.

"Recycling plastic such as PET and re-processing it for next-life use is not only critical to the viability of our industry, but it's simply good practice, both environmentally and economically," said Scott Saunders, APR Chairman and General Manager of KW Plastics Recycling. "Recycling and remanufacturing of recycled material captures and re-purposes the value inherent in the material, provides local jobs, and local tax revenues."

This is the sixth year that NAPCOR, the APR, and PETRA have partnered to produce this report and the 16th year that NAPCOR has issued the report in its current format.