PET recycling rate touches 27%- the highest in over ten years in USA and Canada

26-Oct-09

The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR), and the PET Resin Association (PETRA) have released the "2008 Report on Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity" and a 2008 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) recycling rate of 27%. This is the highest recycling rate in over 10 years and represents an increase of 9.8% over the 2007 rate of 24.6%. Over 1.45 bln lbs of PET bottles were collected in USA in 2008, the highest PET container collection volume recorded to date. The end-uses for a record 915 mln lbs of recycled PET utilized in U.S. manufacturing applications, including fiber for carpet and apparel, strapping, sheet, film, food, beverage, and non-food bottles and containers. Using recycled PET in the manufacture of goods and packaging is energy and resource-efficient and a good example of sustainable practice. Founded in 1987, the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) is the trade association for the PET plastic industry in the United States and Canada. NAPCOR is dedicated to the promotion of the PET package; to overcoming hurdles to the successful recycling of PET; and to the communication of the attributes of the PET container as a sustainable package. The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) is the national trade association representing companies who acquire, reprocess, and sell the output of more than 90% of the post-consumer plastic processing capacity in North America. APR strongly advocates the recycling of all post-consumer plastic packaging. PETRA is the trade association of North American PET resin manufacturers. The association is dedicated to promoting the growth of PET products and representing North American PET resin producers.