Recycling of rigid plastics surpasses 1 bln lbs

12-Mar-14

Rigid plastics recycling increased 10% in 2012 over the previous year, with polypropylene and polyethylene comprising the largest part. The recycling of rigid plastics- excluding bottles - rose to nearly 1.02 bln lbs in 2012, an increase of 10% over 2011 and triple the amount recycled in 2007 when the industry first began tracking rigid plastics recycling. The “2012 National Report on Postconsumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Recycling” attributes the 82 mln lb increase to rapid growth in the collection of plastics beyond bottles in municipalities across USA. Approximately 57% of the rigid plastics collected was processed in the U.S. and Canada, with the remainder exported, primarily to China. Recycling statistics in 2012 were not affected by China’s “Green Fence” policy, which began in February 2013. Polypropylene and polyethylene plastics comprise the largest portion (72%) of postconsumer rigid plastics collected in the U.S. with PP constituting 38% of all rigid plastics recycled, and high-density polyethylene constituting 34%. According to the report, PP and PE generally have the highest market value in both domestic and export markets because they are relatively easy to process and have a wide range of manufacturing uses. Primary domestic end uses for recycled rigid plastics include crates, buckets, pipe, auto parts, and lawn and garden products. Consumer products such as cutting boards, food storage containers, and other types of kitchenware are becoming popular end uses, as are toothbrushes and razors. A small portion of recycled rigid plastics is used in composite materials for products such as outdoor lumber, pallets, and railroad ties.