Strong end use markets drive growth in domestic PET processing
The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR, napcor.com) and The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR, plasticsrecycling.org) announced today the release of the “Report on Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity in 2013.” The report cites a 2013 United States recycling rate of 31.2% for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles, up slightly from 2012’s 30.8%.
Communities in the US collected more PET bottles than ever before in 2013—a total of 1,798 million pounds. Total PET used in the production of U.S. bottles in 2013 was also higher at 5,764 million pounds, despite sales declines in some beverage market sectors. These bottles included a record 475 million pounds of recycled PET content.