Recycling of non-bottle rigid plastics in USA rises 11% in 2008 as compared to 2007

12-Mar-10

Recycling of non-bottle rigid plastics in USA increased by 11% to over 361 mln lbs, in 2008 from 2007, as per American Chemistry Council (ACC). Non-bottle rigid plastics includes high density polyethylene (HDPE) tubs, polypropylene (PP) cups and other food containers, and durable items such as crates, carts, buckets and electronic casings. Much of the recycled material was used to manufacture new products such as pallets, crates, composite lumber and gardening items. Drivers for the increase include growing curbside recycling programs as well as strong plastic scrap prices in Q1-2008. For post-consumer plastic bottle recycling that includes HDPE, PP and polyethylene terepthalate (PET), ACC reported that the total plastic bottle recycling rate in 2008 reached a record-high 2.4 bln lbs at 27%, up from 24.4% in 2007. PET bottles collected increased by 55 mln lbs while HDPE bottles rose by 16.1 million to 936.7 mln lbs. PP bottle recycling totaled 21.2 mln lbs. PET and HDPE bottles continue to account over 96% of the US plastic bottle market and over 99% of the bottles recycled.