U.S. Collection of Postconsumer PET Hits All-Time High
PET bottle collection rates rebounded in 2021 after declining in the preceding years.
The newly released 2021 PET Recycling Report from the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) documents increases in the collection of postconsumer PET for 2021. A record 1.9 billion lb of postconsumer PET was collected in the U.S. alone. The U.S. rate increased from 27.1 to 28.6% while the overall combined rate for U.S., Canada, and Mexico increased from 34.2 to 36.8%.
“The 2021 increase is a powerful indicator that pandemic-driven disruptions to recycling services are getting back on track,” said Laura Stewart, executive director at NAPCOR.
PET collection rates returned to pre-pandemic levels, bringing volume to an all-time high.
Photo Credit: NAPCOR
PET collected via deposit redemption also rebounded, up 46% compared to 2020.
The US RPET textile fiber industry faced higher prices and more competition for clear RPET in 2021, but still achieved a total RPET fiber production of over 1 billion pounds. This was achieved by sourcing greater volumes of colored RPET flake (57%) and greater volumes of post-industrial RPET flake (11%) compared to 2019.
Trends in recycled PET use in fiber and bottle segments.
Photo Credit: NAPCOR
NAPCOR also reported a sign of circularity in thermoformed trays: 11 million lb were recycled by converters into new thermoformed products. Collection of thermoformed PET products set a record at 142 millon lb.
NAPCOR is an industry association for the PET packaging industry in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Related Content
-
BASF Highlighting How They 'Make, Use and Recycle Future Solutions'
NPE2024: BASF is using its proprietary computer-aided engineering tool Ultrasim when designing for sustainability in a broad range of industries.
-
NPE2024 Materials: Spotlight on Sustainability with Performance
Across the show, sustainability ruled in new materials technology, from polyolefins and engineering resins to biobased materials.
-
New Facility Refreshes Post-Consumer PP by Washing Out Additives, Contaminants
PureCycle prepares to scale up its novel solvent recycling approach as new facility nears completion.
