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 how four key plastic types fit into the export total. Film and non-bottle rigids rely the most on foreign buyers – so these are the materials most likely to be significantly impacted by export undulations.
This article originally appeared in the August 2017 issue of Plastics Recycling Update. Subscribe today for access to all print content.
Data Sort is produced each quarter by More Recycling. For additional info, go to morerecycling.com