Above your washing machine, under your kitchen sink or in your refrigerator, plastic bottles are all around us. Americans buy an estimated 28 billion plastic water bottles every year, and nearly eight out of every 10 of those bottles will end up in a landfill, translating to about a 23 percent recycling rate. Furthermore, it’s estimated that the production of plastic accounts for 4 percent of the energy consumption in the U.S.

So let’s get down to the nitty gritty of recycling:  How should you do it? And what can those plastic bottles be made in to? Here’s everything you’ve wanted to know about recycling  plastic bottles.

According to the American Chemistry Council, there are 74 post-consumer plastics recycling companies that focus on plastic bottle recycling. Twenty of these companies recycle PET bottles and fifty-eight companies recycle HDPE bottles. Four of the companies process both resins.

Top 10 Reasons to Recycle Plastic Bottles

1. Shed some light on the issue.
Recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a 60-watt light bulb for up to six hours.

2. It’s a growing demand.
According to the EPA, the amount of plastics generation in municipal solid waste has increased from less than 1 percent in 1960 to 12.1 percent in 2007.

3. Get a creative boost.
Recycled plastic bottles can be made into products such as clothing, carpeting, detergent bottles and lumber for outdoor decking.

4. Walk it out.
More than 80 percent of U.S. households have access to a plastics recycling program, be it curbside or community drop-off centers.

5. Get on the bandwagon.
In recent years, the number of U.S. plastics recycling business has nearly tripled. More than 1,600 businesses are involved in recycling post-consumer plastics.

6. Make room.
Recycling one ton of plastic saves 7.4 cubic yards of landfill space.

7. It’s getting hotter.
Recycling one pound of PET plastic bottles saves approximately 12,000 BTUs (British thermal unit) of heat energy.

8. Reduce the use.
Producing new plastic products from recycled materials uses two-thirds less energy than is required to make products from raw (virgin) materials. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

9. Salvage what’s left.
According to the EPA, while overall recovery of plastics for recycling is relatively small – 2.1 million – recovery of some plastic containers has reached higher levels. PET soft drink bottles were recovered at a rate of 37 percent in 2007. Recovery of HDPE milk and water bottles was estimated at about 28 percent in 2007.

10. Push it forward.
Plastics are a rapidly growing segment of the municipal solid waste stream. The largest category of plastics are found in containers and packaging (e.g., soft drink bottles, lids, shampoo bottles).

Tips on Recycling

According to the Container Recycling Institute, more than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators daily.  So, think before you trash that empty water bottle. Here are a couple of reminders for recycling plastic bottles.

• Check plastic bottle types and numbers. Make sure to find out which plastic bottles are accepted for recycling in your area. Many programs collect plastic bottles made from PET (#1) and HDPE (#2), which together represent almost 96 percent of all plastic bottles produced in the U.S., including milk jogs, water, soft drink, juice bottles, shampoo, toiletries, laundry detergent, household cleaners, salad dressings and other food jars.
• Rinse bottles before tossing them into the bin. Labels are also generally okay. While it has always been recommended to remove bottle caps, keep the cap on unless specifically noted otherwise in your curbside program. Make sure to not throw the cap in separately as it may get lost in the transportation process and become litter.
• Bring it home. When you’re out and about and have a plastic bottle, bring it home for recycling if there are no recycling options around you. Simply leave it in your car, purse or briefcase.
• When in doubt, leave it out. In addition to bottles, a growing number of communities are collecting and recycling plastic containers, such as tubs, trays and lids. But keep in mind that mixing the wrong types of materials can lower the quality of the recycled material. So make sure you understand what types of containers your program accepts.

(Extract from from earth 911 by Amanda Wills06/08/09)

Phil Rozenski holds the amount of plastic needed for one bag in the palm of his hand. He says that to use more recycled content, consumers must demand colored bags. Photo: Jennifer Berry, Earth911

Plastic bags are a thorn in environmentalists sides. Blowing in the wind, floating in the ocean – the images of bags in the environment are not easily forgotten because people find them hard to recycle.

While reusable bag use is on the rise, plastic bags are still churning. About 89 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps are used each year in the U.S. Despite increased messaging about the need to recycle the plastic bags Americans do use, only about 12 percent are recycled each year.

With plastic bags still being in high-demand, and serious environmental concerns needing addressing, Hilex Poly, a leading plastic bag manufacturer, created the only closed-loop bag and film recycling facility in North America. With more than 100 million pounds of bags collected for recycling, now the company’s main eco-goal is to shift cultural perceptions on what bags should actually look like.

Why ditch the white bags

Essentially, the darker a bag is, the more recycled content it can contain. A white plastic bag can only contain about 10 percent recycled content, which is typically only post-industrial, not post-consumer, waste. A blue bag can contain about 35 percent post-consumer recycled content, with gray bags moving closer to 40 percent.

Referencing the poor color mixing styles of preschoolers with fingerpaint, Phil Rozenski, director of sustainability and marketing for Hilex Poly, describes how the various colors of bags the company brings in for recycling from more than 30,000 collection points across the country render the plastic a buff to gray hue when it’s all melted together.

“So, if you have a store that’s using a white bag, we can’t use recycled content in it because it will change the color,” he says. “We’ve been helping educate retailers that if they change to a brown or gray bag, we can start using 30 percent, 40 percent recycled content.”

So why not only produce colored plastic bags? The answer: Marketing.

From restaurants and grocers to pharmacies, white bags “feel” more clean, fresh and new. “It’s kind of a cultural thing – food, medicines, everybody wants white,” says Rozenski, who works with retailers to explain why they should make the switch.

“A retailer will tell me ‘I don’t want to move from a white bag because my logo looks good on it,’” he says. “You need to bring marketing, sustainability, purchasing, all of them together.”

But once retailers make the switch, they don’t seem to go back. “We’ve never really had any complaints – once people change, they stay with that bag,” he adds.

Obstacles to overcome

Earlier this year, Earth911 reported that the U.S. plastic recycling industry faces massive shortages each year, simply because the amount of material returning for recycling is too low. The same effect is occurring with Hilex Poly’s Bag-2-Bag recycling program: they can’t collect enough to create more, post-consumer recycled content bags.

“Well, that’s our biggest obstacle – we don’t get it back,” Rozenski says. ”Realistically, you can go up to almost 100 percent recycled content in a bag,” he says, adding that the company is trying to increase that stream by adding new collection points and trying to incorporate new materials, such as shopping carts, into its recycling process.

According to Rozenski, Hilex used more than 100 million pounds of recycled plastic bags and wrap last year. And throughout the U.S., more than 880 million pounds were recovered.

Rozenski believes that consumer demand for the use of recycled content in bags will ultimately aid in encouraging retailers to adopt buff, blue or gray bags.

Reducing plastic bag use

Reuse rates for plastic bags are high, with rates ranging from 48 percent 60 percent of bags being reused as bin liners or for pet pickup. But these bags never see a recycling bin, and their materials are forever lost to the landfill.

Hilex isn’t blind to the concerns about plastic bag use across the country. Rozenski says it doesn’t want plastic in the ocean – it wants it back in its plants for recycling, where recycled content bags are made using less energy and resources than those from virgin materials.

The North Vernon plant operates a zero-waste manufacturing process, and the company as a whole teaches better bagging techniques to retailers to reduce consumption. Also, as an EPA WasteWise member, the company’s main initiative is to reudce the use of virgin materials throughout its industry.

“If we want to be sustainable, we’ve got to make our product better [...] We have an obligation to be a leader, not just for the industry but for other industries as well.”

You can see a tour of the Hilex Poly North Vernon plant for yourself below. What do you think: Is gray the new green?

(Extract from from earth 911 by Jennifer Berry05/02/11)

Do you have your home recycling straightened out? There may be new rules you missed. We’ve got good news, and we’ve got bad news.

The good news is that Americans are doing a better job recycling, at least when it comes to one particular type of materials: plastics.

According to a recently released report on non-bottle plastic recycling rates for 2009 by the American Chemistry Council (ACC), “A minimum of 479 million pounds of post-consumer non-bottle rigid plastic was recovered in 2009.”

This figure represents an increase of 33 percent over 2008, which is a significant jump. Huzzah!

Now, the bad news: You can’t get complacent. This report only covers one aspect of the recycling spectrum, and there’s still a great deal more that could be done to boost overall rates around the country.

So, what’s a well-meaning recycler to do? Here are our top five tips to make sure you’re a pro in no time flat.

1. Revisit Local Rules

The past few years have been tough on the recycling industry, and some local communities saw changes in the way they recycle. “We’re starting  to see more and more single-stream recycling programs across the country,” says Melissa Quillard, communications manager for Waste Management of Arizona.

So, to make sure you’re taking care of the “low hanging fruit” in this improvement scenario, take a look at how your community works and make sure you’re still up to speed. Try visiting your town or city website for information on what is being collected. This may seem rather simple, but even Earth911 staffers have been known to mess up their recycling – and we’re the experts here.

The point: Even know-it-alls like us get things wrong, so be sure to double-check your own practices at home.

2. Know Your Codes

Some types of materials, like plastic, take a little extra examination before you toss them into the bin. As we learned from the epic example of recycling pizza boxes, contamination in the recycling stream is a big problem.

If your community collects plastics with rules that use wording such as “all containers and tubs,” then you may have lucked out on this tip. But, if you use a recycling program that has guides that read closer to “#1 and #2 plastic, no bags or film,” you’ll probably have to keep an eye out. This holds especially true with children (or roommates!), who might not know how to tell the difference.

Find your local recycling solution for plastic bottles

The point: It’s not just enough to know the rules – you’ve got to get down to the nitty gritty.

Take your recycling beyond the bin. The ReCork program at Whole Foods is a good place to start.

3. Get Off the Curb

You’ve probably mastered your curbside pickup collection, but what about the rest of the waste your home generates? No doubt there are items like electronics, wine corks, plastic containers, CDs, candy wrappers and the like that could actually be recycled if you just did a bit of homework.

The ACC report notes that “There is a growing trend of manufacturing companies creating community collection programs for their own products or to amass a specific resin that isn’t contaminated by the curbside stream.” You can see examples of programs like these with Preserve’s Gimme5 collection.

Try a search on Earth911 for something unusual (CFLs, construction debris, Tyvek envelopes, etc.), and see what’s available either in your area or through a mail-back program.

Find your local recycling solution for CFLs

The point: Pros take a look at their waste and find new ways to recycle it outside the home.

4. Buy Recycled

Buying power makes the world go ’round, and consumers’ decisions to purchase products made with recycled materials ensure continued demand for recycling.

“One of the great things about recycling is the end-use innovation that it has sparked, a whole new industry is starting,” Quillard tells Earth911. “I have detergent whose container is made with recycled content, I have toilet paper made with recycled content, paper towels, tissues, basic household items.”

If you pay attention to the labels on the products you buy, you should be able to tell if the packaging or product itself is made with recycled materials. Continue the work you’re already doing at the curb by aiming to purchase those same materials in a new life. Look around the next time you’re at the store for how you can “vote” for recycled products with your all-mighty dollar.

The point: Buying recycled products keeps the cycle of reuse in motion.

New reverse vending machines reward you for recycling everyday items.

5. Make Some Money

So you’ve mastered the simple steps above. Why not get a little extra in your pocket for your good deeds?

Programs that reward you for recycling are springing up around the country. Greenopolis gives you points for using its kiosks that you can redeem for items like movie tickets and members-only shopping. The ecoATM or Gazelle.com can give you money for your electronics that are outdated but in working condition.

Curbside programs that pay out are also on the rise. Recycle Bank rewards homeowners with points that can be cashed in with hundreds of retailers. Quillard even gave Earth911 a hint that Waste Management has plans to start its own community-based recycling rewards system.

If you don’t have a curbside program that could earn you credit for your good works, ask for one. “Because its the consumer advocates that will help get programs like these put in place,” Quillard advises.

The point: Why not get rewarded for doing the right thing?

(Extract from from earth 911 by Jennifer Berry02/21/11)

What is Recycling

Recycling is the process of making or manufacturing new products from a product that has originally served its purpose. If these used products are disposed of in an appropriate, environmentally friendly way, the process of recycling has been set in motion.

Items that are made from materials such as aluminum, plastic water bottles, and certain kinds of paper (plus many more) can be separated from your regular trash and put in an appropriate recycling bin.

-Photo to the left by David R. Munson-

A large section of the universe is beginning to realize the importance of recycling. However, there are many members of the population that remain unaware or simply think it is too much of a bother.

We believe the trend is growing, however. And we further believe that proactive individuals and alternative energy companies are beginning to step up in a big way.

What is Recycling / Schools

The role of schools has broadened over the years as awareness of the importance of recycling has deepened. Many programs have been established to teach children to be responsible for their carbon footprint.

When teachers instill in children that their actions will either damage or help the environment, a higher level of consciousness is able to spread throughout the younger generation. We have all heard that children are our future, and when it comes to the health of the planet Earth, that could not be more true.

Teachers are doing much more than lecturing (although rallies are held on a semi-regular basis). Students are given assignments to contact their local congressmen and women and ask for help. If there are not recycling bins for all the different materials (water, glass, Styrofoam, paper, metals, etc.), the kids are instructed to write letters stating their concerns and their desire to help.

Once these seeds are planted, and then nurtured through awareness and education, the kids become active on their own. Revolutions were born this way. And this world is ready for a recycling revolution.

What is Recycling / The Workplace

The workplace allows for many opportunities to be responsible when it comes to helping the environment. And just as the awareness in schools is being raised, it is with businesses all over the world.

On a smaller scale many businesses are providing clearly marked bins for employees to throw their recyclable trash away.

Energy efficient light bulbs are being used in offices and leaders within businesses offer educational materials on recycling and ways to live sustainably to their employees and in their community.

One such business is Cartridge World in Issaquah, Washington. Ink cartridges are well known for taking hundred of years to disintegrate, and so this company realizes a sincere effort must be made to be responsible.

Recognized as one of the Best Working Recycling Businesses in 2009, a representative of Cartridge World made this statement, ” “In this time of chaos, we all need to save as much money as we can and help to keep our cities clean and green.

Encourage employees to recycle paper and other items in the work place as well. If we all work together we can keep our neighborhoods and cities places we can be proud to call home.”

Many other socially responsible companies are also expanding their businesses by building green and using environmentally friendly means such as solar energy and water conservation.

What is Recycling / The Government Steps Ups

More and more money is being allocated to produce automobiles that do not rely on gasoline for instance. President of the United States, Barak Obama, recently bailed out several American car companies with the stipulation that a major portion of the money be used to created energy efficient cars.

-Photo to the left by TR.ipod-

Other countries likeJapanare ahead of the United States. But the important point is that conscientious leaders are making a difference.

Many countries like Italyand Australiaalso offer tax advantages and subsidies to schools and companies that have recycling programs and that use alterative forms of energy to run and grow their business. Legislation is even in motion to promote green and sustainable living in developing countries.

What is Recycling / Bringing it Full Cycle

What do energy efficient cars, solar energy and water conservation have to do with recycling?

All these movements were started to lessen the impact of damage we are inflicting on the environment.

Side effects of not being aware of this impact are global warming, loss of beautiful space given up for landfills, not enough clean water to drink, loss of precious wildlife and plants, plus many more consequence that we are not even privy to …yet.

The time is now – to become aware, to educate ourselves, to take action, and to educate others.

It is our responsibility as inhabitants and co-creators of this planet if we hope to maintain the beauty of our surroundings.

PET Recycling / What is PET?

Edited from benefits-of-recycling

Polyethylene terephthalate or as it is more commonly known PET or PETE is a polymer resin that is part of the polyester family.

It has a wide range of uses including synthetic fibers, food, beverage and other liquid containers. Over 60 percent of global production of PET is used in the manufacture of synthetic fibers. Bottle production accounts for about 30 percent of the PET produced.

PET is simply referred to as polyester when it is used in textile applications. The name PET or PETE is used mainly in packaging applications.

The most common uses of PET as a packaging material is its use as a raw material for bottles and other containers of consumer goods.

Some of these are used in bottles for soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, edible oils, pharmaceuticals, and detergents. PET is one of the most common plastics being used by consumers.

PET Recycling / Who first produced the PET Bottle?

The bottle that everyone is familiar with today started out as American Patent No. 3733309 and was published in 1973. This invention is usually credited to Nathaniel Wyeth of Du Pont.

This patent was for the machinery for making “biaxially oriented” bottles. The material to be used was Polyethylene terephthalate. This material was based on Polyester, the material for fiber that was also used in textiles.

The first result was a “terrible-looking bottle” and Wyeth was even pleased that it was at least hollow. The first offers by DuPont to have other companies manufacture the bottle under license was refused by packaging giants Owens-Illinois and Continental Can.  

The major advantage of PET was that it did not contaminate the contents. Another was lightweight and strength. The material was resistant to breaking unlike glass.

The main problem was recycling. PET is inert and takes an extremely long time to degrade. The empty cylinders would also take an enormous amount of space in landfills if they were not crushed.  The first attempt at recycling goes back to 1977. Today PET bottle which are usually clear or green colored have the identification number 1 on the bottom which makes them easier to identify in the recycling stream.

PET Recycling / How does recycling PET work?

The PET package is simply discarded by the consumer and becomes part of the waste stream as post consumer waste. In the recycling industry this is known as post consumer PET. Some local governments and private agencies collect PET separately from other household waste.

Most thermoplastics can be recycled and PET is no exception. PET bottle recycling is also more practical and more easily executed because they are more easily identifiable in the recycle stream since most soft drink and water bottles are made exclusively of PET. PET has the resin identification number 1. One of the uses for recycled PET bottles is raw material for polyester fiber.

The sorted bottles are first broken down into small flakes and compressed into bales which are easier to transport and are then used to make new bottles or other products such as textile fibers. A new patent application claims that making the flakes very small. These small flakes have superior processing properties for the production of new plastic articles.

PET is easily recycled and since there is an abundance post consumer PET in bottle form it is becoming a preferred source of material in the production of carpet fiber.

 Selected from ” Earth Day”.

To make it easier for consumers to recycle more, Plastics Make it Possible offers the following tips for reusing and reusing everyday plastics. These simple steps can help you keep your commitment to protecting the environment every day.

1. Find out which plastics are accepted for recycling in your area and where they can be taken. Though recycling varies throughout the country, most community programs collect plastic bottles, and many grocery and retail chains offer bins for recycling used plastic bags.

Bottles: Today, more than 80 percent ofU.S.households have access to a recycling program, and the vast majority of them collect plastic bottles. For recycling purposes, a bottle is any container with a neck or an opening that’s smaller than its base. Include the following wherever plastic bottles are recycled:

• Milk jugs

• Beverage bottles (e.g., water, soft drinks, juice and beer)

• Bottles from shampoo, toiletries, laundry detergent and other household cleaners

• Salad dressing, cooking oil and condiment bottles

• Food jars, such as peanut butter and mayonnaise

Bags: Many grocery and retail stores now offer plastic bag drop-off programs that allow consumers to return their used bags and product wraps to be recycled at collection areas located at the front entrance or near the store checkout. All clean bags labeled #2 (HDPE) or #4 (LLDPE) are recyclable, including:

• Grocery bags

• Retail bags (remove hard plastic or string handles)

• Plastic newspaper bags

• Dry cleaning bags (remove paper and hangers)

• Bread bags (with crumbs shaken out)

• You can also include plastic wraps from products such as paper towels, bathroom paper, napkins and diapers wherever plastic bags are collected for recycling

2. Clean and empty. Bags should be clean and empty. Do not include plastic food wrap, bags that have food residue, or material that has been painted or glued (other than the inks on the bag).

3. Bring them back to the bin. Many bottles and bags are used away from home so it’s important to bring them back to the recycle bin. Here’s how: when you’re out and about, store them in a backpack or briefcase, or simply leave them in the car until they arrive home or at the grocery store. And don’t forget to put the cap back on the bottles to prevent any residue from leaking out until you can properly recycle the bottle.

4. Store bags in a bag. Storing plastic bags and product wraps in a plastic bag offers neat, convenient storage. Simply knot the handles when you’re ready to drop them off at your local grocer or retailer.

5. Pitch in beyond the kitchen. While many recyclable bottles come from the kitchen, don’t forget to check the bathrooms and laundry room for shampoo and detergent bottles.

6. Reuse those bags! There are many helpful ways to reuse plastic bags, such as:

• Wet umbrella cover – keep other items in your bag dry when your umbrella is wet

• Suitcase savers – wrap shoes before packing them with clean clothes

• Hand protectors – place them over your hands to handle messes indoors and out

• Kitchen clean-up – place them under the cutting board for quick scrap removal

• Trash can liners – use them in bathrooms and other household waste baskets

• Doggie duty – bring them on dog walks to collect and dispose of pet waste

7. When in doubt, leave it out. In addition to bottles, a growing number of communities are collecting and recycling plastic containers, such as yogurt cups, tubs, trays and lids. But keep in mind that mixing the wrong types of materials (even other plastics) can lower the quality of the recycled material. A growing number of plastics recycling programs also accept rigid containers that don’t fit the “bottle “ description — make sure to find out what type of containers are acceptable. And remember – put plastic caps back on bottles and containers since now recyclers want those, too. Keep these items out of the recycle bin unless your community specifically accepts them:

• No plastic bags or wraps (take them to your grocery store, if accepted)

• No automotive, pesticide or solvent bottles

• No toys

• No trays, tubs or containers (unless your community asks for them; more and more communities are recycling these types of containers in addition to bottles, so it’s worth checking.)

8. Bridge the second generation gap. It’s important to remember that recycled plastics go on to become second generation products. Bottles are used to make hundreds of everyday items, ranging from fleece jackets and carpeting to detergent bottles and lumber for outdoor decking. Plastic bags can also be made into many products, including new bags, durable backyard decks, fencing, railing, park benches, picnic tables, and shopping carts.

 Selected from ” Earth Day”.

Whether you’re making plans for Earth Day or simply looking for ways to do more for the planet, now is the perfect time to revitalize your recycling efforts.

Something as simple as recycling more of the plastic bottles, bags and wraps you use every day can make a big difference. But recycling doesn’t stop with throwing these items in the bin; purchasing products made with recycled materials is another great way to go green!

In fact, nearly 83 percent of Americans say they feel more “green” when buying products made with recycled plastics or other recycled materials, according to a recent survey by Plastics Make It Possible, an initiative sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council.

“Earth Day is the perfect time to close the ‘recycling loop’ by purchasing products made from recycled materials,” said Steve Russell, vice president of the plastics division of the American Chemistry Council. “Many plastics can be recycled and given a second life as clothing, carpeting, furniture, gardening equipment, backyard decks, new bottles and bags and other products we use every day.”

Here are some tips to get you back to recycling basics:

• Understand your local recycling program. Recycling programs vary across the country, but most community curbside programs collect plastic bottles, and many major grocery and retail chains now offer bins to collect plastic bags and wraps for recycling. An increasing number of communities also collect other containers such as yogurt and butter tubs — check to see if yours is one of them.

• Check the neck. For recycling purposes, a bottle is any container with a neck smaller than its base. This includes beverage containers, food jars for products such as mayonnaise and dressings, and bottles for shampoo, laundry detergent and household cleaners. And remember, recyclers want the caps, too!

• Bag it. Collect plastic bags from grocery, retail and dry cleaning stores, and plastic product wraps from items such as newspapers, bread, paper towels, napkins, bathroom tissue and diapers. Simply store the clean bags and wraps inside another bag and then drop them off at a participating grocery or retail store to be recycled.

• Hold on to your recyclables. When away from home, recap and store empty bottles in a backpack, briefcase or your car until you arrive home and can toss them in the recycling bin.

• When in doubt, leave it out. Be careful not to contaminate your recyclables with items that aren’t recycled in your community.

Support the second generation. Recycled materials often go on to become second generation products such as carpeting, fleece jackets and new bottles and bags. For example, eight recycled plastic bottles can create a soft, new t-shirt. Look for innovative products made with recycled materials at your favorite retailer so you can close the recycling loop and reap the rewards of your recycling efforts.

From “earth 911”.

Plastic bottles go through a series of steps to become new plastic products.

1. Baling

Collected bottles are condensed for shipping.

After bottles are collected, they are taken to a materials recovery facility (MRF) where they are condensed into large bales for shipping. Each bale weighs 800 to 1,200 pounds and can contain anywhere from 6,400 to 9,600 beverage, food and/or non-food bottles.

2. Sorting

Reclaimers rip apart the bales, then sort and shred the bottles.

Bales are shipped to a plastics reclaimer where a machine called a bale breaker rips apart the bales. The bottles and containers are then optically sorted by resin and sometimes color. The pieces then go through a machine where they are shredded into tiny flakes.

3. Melting

The flakes are then washed, dried and melted.

The flakes are washed to remove any impurities, like pieces of labels or leftover contents. They are then dried and melted.

4. Flaking

The melted plastic is formed into flakes.

The melted plastic is processed into flakes, which are sold to end markets, and can be made into a wide variety of plastic products.

5. Next applications

Flakes are spun into fine, thread-like material to make textiles.

In many PET and HPDE applications the flakes are often spun into a very fine, thread-like material through a process similar to making cotton candy. This can be used to make carpets, clothing or filling for jackets and quilts because the thin plastic has good insulation properties.

ALEXANDRIA, VA, from IBWA Nov 27^th. – The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) applauds Senator Thomas R. Carper (D) of Delaware and Senator Olympia Snowe (R) of Maine, co-Chairs of the Senate Recycling Caucus and others, for their introduction of U.S. Senate Resolution 251, which expresses support for “the improvement of collection, processing and consumption of recyclable materials throughout the United States” and “policies in the United States that establish the equitable treatment of recycled materials.”

“The bottled water industry supports effective recycling and environmental conservation policies. We are pleased to see this effort to help build upon the growing public momentum to increase recycling rates nationwide by spelling-out its many economic and energy saving benefits,” said Joe Doss, IBWA’s President and CEO. “Any efforts to increase recycling while reducing the environmental impact of packaging must be broad-based and focus on all consumer goods, as this resolution does, and not target any one industry,” Doss continued.

Recycling analyses by the National Association for PET Container (NAPCOR) and others show bottled water is just one of thousands of food and beverage products packaged in plastic containers and make up an extremely small percentage of potentially recyclable material. According to U.S. EPA data, bottled water containers make up only 1/3 of 1 percent (0.33%) of theU.S.waste stream. Nonetheless, research data (below) shows plastic water bottles to be the single most common item found in curbside recycling bins.

Overview of Bottled Water Industry Recycling and Sustainability Efforts

IBWA supports comprehensive, multi-industry approaches to recycling and solid waste management, and is dedicated to the comprehensive management of bottled water packaging to provide the highest quality, cost effective and environmentally responsible containers possible. IBWA and its members approach packaging issues in a manner emphasizing the most effective and efficient solutions to reduce the impact on the environment while taking into account the equal responsibility of all solid waste generators. Consideration must also be given to behavioral solutions, such as public education and enforcement of existing recycling and litter control laws.

The national recycling rate for PET plastic bottled water containers (.5 liter or 16.9 ounce size and 3 and 5 gallon PET water cooler bottles for Home and Office Delivery) stands at 31% for 2009, according to data from two studies: “2009 Post Consumer PET Bottle Bale Composition Analysis” and “2009 Report on PET Water Bottle Recycling,” both produced by NAPCOR for IBWA. We realize that more needs to be done, but the 31% recycling rate is a welcome continuation of steady annual increases in the recycling trend line since this analysis commenced in 2004, when the recycling rate for PET plastic bottled water containers stood at only 16.62%. The data indicate that the recycling rate for PET plastic bottled water containers has nearly doubled in six years.

The bottled water industry has also reduced the average weight of PET Plastic bottled water containers. Analysis performed by the Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC) for IBWA shows that over the past eight years the gram weight of the 16.9 ounce “single serve” bottled water container has dropped by 32.6%. The average PET bottled water container weighed 18.9 grams in 2000 and by 2009, the average amount of PET resin in each bottle has declined to 12.7 grams. BMC estimates that during this time span, more than 1.3 billion pounds of PET resin has been saved by the bottled water industry through container light-weighting.

Franklin Associates, a division of ERG, produced the LCI and prepared a report that quantified the energy requirements, solid waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions for the production, packaging, transport, and end-of- life management for bottled water consumed in theUnited Statesusing final data from calendar year 2007.

In 2010, IBWA’s Board of Directors endorsed an innovative framework for a Material Recovery Program that can serve as the blueprint for local communities to increase recycling through the support and participation of all stakeholders, including product manufacturers. The Material Recovery Program framework will assist in developing new, comprehensive solutions to help manage solid waste in communities throughout in theUnited Statesby having all consumer product companies work together with state and local governments to improve recycling and waste collection efforts.

IBWA’s Material Recovery Program framework supports state-authorized public/private corporations that:

• Establish in each community specific recycling goals to increase recycling access and rates.
• Generate revenue for grants from annual consumer product company producer responsibility fees and local/state government contributions.
• Fund local government recycling infrastructure improvements and consumer education programs.
• Dissolve when local recycling goals have been met.

Improving recycling rates and lighter-weight containers are only part of the bottled water industry commitment to maintaining a lighter environmental footprint. In 2009, IBWA commissioned a Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) study to determine the environmental footprint of theUnited Statesbottled water industry. The results indicate that bottled water has a very small environmental footprint. The study found:

• Measurement based on British Thermal Units (BTUs) indicates that the energy consumed to produce small pack water bottled water containers (containers from 8 ounces to 2.5 gallons) amounted to only 0.067 percent of the total energy use in theUnited Statesin 2007. Home and Office Delivery (HOD) bottled water (reusable bottles from 2.5 to 5 gallons) energy consumption only amounted to 0.003 percent of the total energy used in theUnited Statesin 2007.
• The small pack and HOD bottled water industries’ combined greenhouse gas/ CO2 emissions amounted to only 0.08 percent of totalUnited Statesgreenhouse gas emissions.
• Bottled water packaging discards accounted for only 0.64 percent of the 169 million tons of total U.S. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) discards in 2007.
• The process and transportation BTU energy use for the bottled water industry was only 0.07 percent of total U.S. BTU primary energy consumption.
• Greenhouse gas emissions per half gallon of single serve bottled water came to 426.4 grams CO2 equivalent (eq.), which is 75 percent less CO2 eq. per half gallon than orange juice.
• Small pack bottled water generates 46 percent less CO2 eq. when compared to soft drinks also packaged in PET plastic.

IBWA believes that increasing the recycling rates for all consumer products and packaging should be a top priority for all companies whose product or packaging is ultimately discarded. Locally run, comprehensive recycling programs are the best method of cost-effectively diverting solid waste from landfills and increasing recycling of consumer products and packaging.

from earth 911.

Plastic recycling affects a range of products, from drink containers to shopping bags to pipes. The use of plastic in the majority of our products makes recycling very important.

Curbside programs often make recycling plastic containers and products easy. While there may be some plastics that are not accepted in a curbside program, many of these materials are recyclable at a qualified center.

Check out Earth911′s recycling locator to find a location near you for plastics not accepted within your curbside program. Also, keep in mind that these items may be accepted at major retail locations across the country. For example, most major grocery stores across theU.S. now accept plastic bags for recycling in their stores.

To know the best way to recycle these products, it’s best to learn more about their life cycles, including what types of plastics are used for different products.

First, why are most plastics marked with a number inside a recycling symbol? The simple answer is that each number represents the type of resin made to produce the plastic. These numbers are plastic #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6 and #7. Because each resin is different, these numbers affect how and where you can recycle plastics.

The chart below from the American Chemistry Council is a great place to start learning the basics about plastics. The different types are used depending on the product being manufactured. For example, PET and HDPE are the most common forms of plastic, so they are often the easiest types to find locations where they are accepted for recycling.