US Plastic bottle recycling climbed higher by 4.3% in 2013

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): According to figures released jointly by the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the plastic bottle recycling increased by 4.3% to total 2.9 billion pounds during 2013. The 24^th ‘National Post-Consumer Plastic Bottle Recycling Report’ provides detailed analysis of recycling rates of HDPE, PP and PET bottles. It also highlights the latest trends in plastic recycling industry.

The report states that single-stream collection of household recyclables has grown significantly during 2013. However, contamination rates too have increased proportionately. The plastic bottles are still used heavily in packaging application, but stiff competition does prevail in the sector. Enhanced sorting techniques have resulted in value addition by reclaimers. There is great room for improvement in away-from-home collection of recyclables.

According to the report, collection of high-density polyethylene (HDPE, #2) bottles totaled 1.05 billion pounds in 2013, increasing by over 26 million pounds from the previous year. However, the recycling rate of HDPE bottles remained flat at 31.6%.

Exports of post-consumer plastic bottles fell to their lowest level in five years. Exports of HDPE dropped nearly 20% to 163 million pounds in 2013. On the other hand, HDPE imports by US reclaimers surged by 124% from 33 million pounds in 2012 to 74 million pounds in 2013.

HDPE and polyethylene terephthalate (PET, #1) bottles together accounted for nearly 96% of the US plastic bottle market during the year.