APR encourages supermarkets to recycle rigid plastics
New economic benefits for grocers revealed
As grocery store chains focus on Zero Waste Initiatives, a recently developed economic overview of recycling grocery rigid plastics helps grocers recognize that recycling their bakery, deli and other “behind the counter” rigid plastic containers makes economic sense. According to the study by the leading plastics recycling group, recycling of these containers reduces the amount of material going to landfill, while at the same time generating new revenue for the chains.
The Association of Postconsumer Plastics Recyclers (APR, PlasticsRecycling.org), the trade organization representing the plastics recycling industry in North America, developed the Grocery Store Recycling Program in 2013. A 2014 case study of multiple grocery rigid plastic recycling programs revealed an average conventional supermarket generates between 80-150 pounds per week of rigid plastic containers within the bakery, deli, seafood and pharmacy departments. The study identified the economic benefits of recycling rigid plastics in supermarkets including lower waste disposal costs, as well as potential new revenue from marketing these materials.