plastics recycling

State of Plastic Recycling
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.

Plastic Recycling Statistics:

• AFPR's 2008 EPS Recycling Rate Report
  The 2008 Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Packaging Recycling Rate Study (the “Rate Study”) was conducted by R.W. Beck on behalf of the Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers (AFPR). To better track EPS recycling trends AFPR gathers data to reflect both post-commercial and post-residential collection streams. The results reflect an increase in the number of post-consumer pounds recycled in 2008 based on data received from fifty-one EPS manufacturers and independent recyclers in twenty states.
• 2008 National Post-Consumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Report
  The 2008 edition of the United States National Post-Consumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Report is the 19th annual report on plastic bottle recycling. This study is a cooperative effort between the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the Association of Postconsumer Plastics Recyclers (APR), the goal of which is to quantify the amount of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) bottles recycled, as well as the rate of recycling.
• 2007 National Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic Bag and Film Report
  The 2007 National Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic Bag and Film Report is the third annual U.S. report on pounds of plastic bags and film recovered for recycling. (Generally in this report plastic bags and film will be referred to as “film.”). Research for this report was conducted by Moore Recycling Associates, Inc. of Sonoma, CA for the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) of Arlington, VA.
• 2007 National Post-Consumer Report on Non-Bottle Rigid Plastics Recycling
  The 2007 National Post-Consumer Recycling Report on Non-Bottle Rigid Plastics is the first annual report on U.S. pounds of post consumer non-bottle rigid plastics (including packaging and non-packaging) recovered for recycling. Research for this report was conducted by Moore Recycling Associates, Inc. of Sonoma, CA for the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) of Arlington, VA.
• 2006 National Post-Consumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Report
  The 2006 edition of the United States National Post-Consumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Report is the 17th annual report on plastic bottle recycling. This study is a cooperative effort between the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the Association of Postconsumer Plastics Recyclers (APR), the goal of which is to quantify the amount of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) bottles recycled, as well as the rate of recycling.  
• 2006 National Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic Bag and Film Report
  The 2006 National Post-Consumer Recycled Plastic Bag and Film Report is the second annual U.S. report on pounds of plastic bags and film recovered for recycling. The report includes data gathered from both domestic and export post-consumer plastic film markets.   Research for this report was conducted by Moore Recycling Associates, Inc. of Sonoma, CA for the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC).
• 2005 National Post-Consumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Report
  The 2005 National Post-Consumer Plastics Recycling Report is the 16th annual plastics recycling study. This study represents a cooperative effort between the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council and the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers. Designed to quantify the amount of and the rate at which post-consumer HDPE and PP plastic bottles were recycled in calendar year 2005, the reclaimer survey portion of the study was conducted by the engineering consulting firm of R. W. Beck, Inc.  
• Plastic Recycling Facts
  Learn plastic recycling facts from the recycling infrastructure and recycling in communities to recycling quantities and rates and plastics in municipal solid waste.

Resources and Links:

• All Plastic Bottles (recycling)
  A resource for recycling coordinators that provides guidance on designing recycling programs that ensure the highest possible recovery rates for plastic bottles.
• How Do You Get More of These in Here? 
  A motivational tool kit designed to assist recyclers in the development and execution of a public service campaign; includes a how-to booklet, trade press advertisements, a series of broadcast ready radio public service announcements and ready-to-print feature stories for newspapers.
• Info Sheet on Plastic Bags
• Plastic Bag Recycling
  Online resource for plastic bag and film recycling.
• Plastic Packaging and Resource Conservation: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover
• Recycling Plastic Bottles (Tips for Consumers)
• Reusing and Recycling Plastic Bags (Tips for Consumers)

*Recycling does not exist in all areas. Check to see if there is a recycling facility in your community.