state of plastic recycling
May 2007
Plastics’ recycling is an established national industry. The number of companies handling and reclaiming post-consumer plastics (over 1,790) is nearly six times greater than in the early days, 1986 (310). The industry faces continuing challenges. However, over time, the recycling of plastics will continue to grow and become a more efficient and conventional segment of the national economy.
Capacity to process material and the market demand for the recovered plastic resin continue to exceed the amount of post-consumer bottles that are now recovered from the waste stream. The shortfall in supply has existed for over 10 years. In 2005, over 1,050,000 tons of plastic bottles were recycled. Each year the amount of plastic bottles recycled increases by millions of pounds while the recycling rate has stabilized around 25%. Volume increases in the tons of bottles recycled and a steady recycling rate is due to the continuing rapid increases in the number of plastic bottles used to package an ever-increasing variety of products. Both the numerator and the denominator of the recycling rate increase, but the ratio has stayed steady.
Markets for recycled plastic are stable in most areas and expanding in many others. The ACC Plastics Division’s Markets Database lists buyers and sellers of recycled plastics. The Recycled Plastics Products Source Book lists over 1,600 plastic products with recycled content. On average, over 7,500 visitors per month refer to the Source Book. The primary market for recycled PET bottles continues to be fiber for carpet and textiles, while the primary market for recycled HDPE is bottles.
Development of new end uses for recycled PET bottles (like coating for corrugated paper and other natural fibers to make waterproof products like shipping containers) will fuel the demand for more post-consumer plastics in the future. Recycled PET is used to package food and beverages and non-food products. Recycled PET also is used to make strapping, which replaces metal strapping at lower cost and higher performance. For HDPE, recycled-content landscape and garden products, including everything from lawn chairs to garden edging, are growing in popularity. Recycled HDPE is used in various pipe applications and plastic lumber uses.
The recycled plastic lumber industry is gaining consumer recognition, and new ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) standards and test methods are paving the way for use of these materials in more demanding applications. Even recycled plastic railroad ties and marine pilings are in use. For many products the switch to plastic means longer life and less maintenance, which translates to lower cost over the life of the product.
The supply of the raw material that feeds the industry (recycled plastic bottles from households) is a limiting factor. More than 20,000 American communities have access to plastics recycling programs. Nearly all of the major communities, representing 63% of the population, include #1 PET and #2 HDPE plastic bottles in their collection programs. Today, about 95% of plastic bottles are manufactured from PET and HDPE resins. Today's infrastructure is established with over 8,500 curbside collection systems serving 48% of the US population, as reported for 2005. After collection, 504 materials recovery facilities, or MRF’s, processed the collected recyclables for sale to industrial users. High prices for bales of recycled plastic have, perhaps, resulted in increased collection in existing infrastructure. From 2003 through 2005 the collection of recyclable bottles increased at an annual rate of over 12%.
New packaging continues to convert from traditional materials to plastics. However, many of these new packages contain products that are frequently consumed "on the go," so capturing these containers for recycling is challenging. This rapid growth in new container sales, coupled with the steady but slower growth in recovered containers, means that the recycling rate for plastic bottles stays steady despite an annual increase in the number of pounds recycled. Increased awareness and education are required to change this dynamic and avoid discarding these recyclable materials.
The Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council promotes an "All Plastic Bottle Collection Program" to increase recycling of plastic bottles and will work with communities to educate consumers. Research has shown that the simplified message "recycle ALL of your plastic bottles" significantly increases collection of post-consumer plastic bottles. In 2006 approximately 2012 communities in the United States accepted all plastic bottles in their collection programs. The simplification in message typically results in a 10 to 20% increase in the collection of plastic bottles compared to programs that focus more narrowly on just some bottles. The program has the support of several other industry trade associations such as the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR), the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), and the American Beverage Association (ABA).
Many manufacturers of grocery products (i.e. beer, mayonnaise, spaghetti sauce, juices, and applesauce) are adding plastic packaging as an option. New applications for plastic packaging are growing rapidly.
Recycled materials compete with virgin materials. Recyclers feel pressure as they are squeezed between fixed processing costs and competition with virgin materials that respond to different economic signals. When active plastic buying and selling areas, such as Asia, experience an economic slowdown this translates into an economic problem for North American plastics reclaimers. During these times, Asian companies will typically export more virgin resin and import less recycled material, upsetting the domestic North American supply and demand balance.
The cost-effective recycling of new packages will require renewed education for households, recyclables collectors, the materials recovery facilities and handlers sorting plastic, and the processors. The end result will be a more dynamic industry poised to recover more valuable resources. Guidelines for package design have been published by APR to enhance plastic bottle recyclability. APR has also published testing criteria to assess the recyclability of innovative plastic bottles.
Plastic bag and film recycling is growing because clean polyethylene film is a valuable commodity. Most large grocery store chains and an increasing number of large retailers across the United States collect and recycle used plastic bags and combine it with stretch film (pallet wrap). Additionally, an increasing number of municipalities collect used plastic bags as well. Used plastic film from warehousing and logistics operations is also recycled. The website, www.PlasticBagRecycling.org, provides resource information on the collection and processing of plastic bags and films for consumers, businesses, municipalities and recyclers.
Reclamation of durable plastics, from automobiles to computer cases to office equipment, has been ongoing for many years. The Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 in the State of California resulted in the collection of 32,000 tons of consumer electronics, much of it made of plastic. Automobile plastics recycling is continuing with high recycling rates for auto batteries. The Vehicle Recycling Partnership promotes the recycling of all automotive materials, including plastics. Appliance recycling includes recovery of valuable performance plastics.
*Recycling does not exist in all areas. Check to see if there is a recycling facility in your community.
