Reclay StewardEdge (RSE) conducted research on behalf of the American Chemistry Council, composite decking manufacturer Trex and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to summarize “recycling support” activity in the United States. The research entailed a voluntary survey, interviews and reviews of readily available information. More Recycling contributed to the research and then categorized the statewide activities into four types:...

Reclay StewardEdge (RSE) conducted research on behalf of the American Chemistry Council, composite decking manufacturer Trex and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to summarize recycling market development activity in the United States. The research entailed a voluntary survey, interviews and reviews of readily available information. More Recycling contributed to the research and then categorized the statewide activities into four...

The maps below demonstrate how extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs for packaging have spread around the globe over the last decade, with programs requiring packaging makers to fund recovery systems taking root in a variety of countries. The maps were provided by Environmental Packaging International (EPI), a consultancy specializing in environmental compliance, product stewardship and sustainability related to packaging and...

The maps below demonstrate how extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs for packaging have spread around the globe over the last decade, with programs requiring packaging makers to fund recovery systems taking root in a variety of countries. The maps were provided by Environmental Packaging International (EPI), a consultancy specializing in environmental compliance, product stewardship and sustainability related to packaging and...

Most West Coast materials recovery facilities (MRFs) are not equipped to sort plastics beyond PET and HDPE bottles. This material is often referred to as 3-7, but it includes small rigid plastic of all resins, as well as missed PET and HDPE bottles. It is this mix that is struggling to find a market in the wake of National Sword....

The graphs below show findings from the “2016 National Post-Consumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Recycling Report,” which was released earlier this year. U.S. and Canadian buyers reported a marginal increase in non-bottle rigid plastic acquired from purchasing of mixed-resin rigid bales, with most of their overall increase coming from the purchasing of non-bottle rigid plastic segregated by resin from both residential...

The largest environmental benefit from plastics recycling comes when post-consumer resin (PCR) is incorporated into a new product, displacing virgin resin that would otherwise be used. To bring that somewhat abstract concept into real-world terms, we analyzed the effects of increasing PCR in one specific everyday item: plastic trash bags. In the U.S. trash bag market, approximately 6 billion pounds...

According to the most recent statistics, around 900 million pounds of polyethylene post-consumer resin (PCR) are purchased annually in the U.S. for use in new products, but 2.76 billion pounds of PE are collected for recycling. That means collection is exceeding domestic demand by 1.86 billion pounds. However, information from buyers indicates they could use more if the PCR hits...

The North American plastics recycling industry is facing uncertainties in terms of the future of export markets as China and other importers evolve policies. Some plastics sectors feel the effects of these developments more than others. According to the most recent research, roughly 28 percent of recycled plastic collected in the U.S. heads to export markets. The graph below shows...

Most material that’s collected in the U.S. for recycling is reclaimed in the U.S., though there is a supply/demand imbalance for some commodities. This imbalance has traditionally been remedied through demand from the export market, but the amount of material going to export has trended downwards since 2009 and will likely continue to decrease going forward, especially in light of...