As Recycling Declines, Brand Commitments to Increase Recycled Content Are Tough to Meet
The recycling of bottles, non-bottle rigid plastic and film declined by 27 million pounds in 2019 or 0.5% — and though North American recyclers continue to recycle the majority of the post-consumer plastic recovered, declines in mature recycling streams make brand company commitments to increase recycled content more challenging, according to a new report.
In order for brands to be able to procure quality feedstock at lower environmental and economic costs, collection of quality material is essential for recyclers, says Steve Alexander, president and CEO of the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). The report, based on the results of a 2019 survey sponsored by the APR, the Foundation for Plastic Recycling, and the American Chemistry Council (ACC), found that recycling of plastics in North America has risen approximately 8% since 2017, though recycling of bottles, non-bottle rigid plastic and film declined.
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