PLASTICS Releases Additional Videos on Recycling Successes

The Plastics Industry Association released additional videos as part of the Recycling is Real campaign. The campaign, announced in September, is aimed at raising awareness among policymakers about the plastic recycling industry in the United States.

As a counter to negative reports about low recycling rates and failed collection programs, the campaign places the focus on the companies that are recycling day in and day out, and the workers who are making it happen. According to the Association of Plastic Recyclers, nearly 5 billion lbs of plastic were recycled in the United States in 2021.

Workers at Placon inspect and sort reclaimed polyester bottles for recycling, in this still from a Recycling is Real video. Photo Credit: PLASTICS industry association.

The second round of videos feature EPSilyte, a manufacturer of construction, packaging and safety equipment; Niagara Bottling, a family-owned manufacturer of bottled water and other drinks; the global packaging company Amcor.; and Envision Plastics, a producer of recycled plastic resins.

According to EPSilyte, the company recycled over one million pounds of material in 2022, and has set a goal of recycling four million lb/yr by 2025. EPSilyte’s recycling strategy involves recovering expanded polystyrene foam packaging from supply chains.

As a manufacturer of a PET-packaged product, Niagara Bottling is well positioned to utilize recycled materials. “In California, we are the largest consumer of recycled PET, using over 20 million lbs annually,” says Rali Sanderson, president at Niagara Bottling, in a Recycling is Real video.

Amcor announced 200,000 metric tons of recycled material purchased in 2023, and has signed an MOU with Nova Chemicals to purchase mechanically recycled polyethylene when that company’s recycling facility starts up in 2025.

Since its founding in 2001, Envision Plastics has produced 1.5 billion lbs of recycled resin. In 2018, Envision began producing ocean bound HDPE, recycled from materials collected where risk of plastic becoming ocean pollution is high.

Previously, campaign videos featuring recycled resin producer Ultra-Poly, packaging producers Novolex and Placon, and equipment manufacturer MAAG were released in September. The campaign also includes targeted emails promoting the plastic recycling industry.