NAPCOR reports increase in PET recycling rate

The use of post consumer recycled PET increased 59% from 2003 to 2004 to a record 878 million pounds.

04/10/05 The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) has announced a Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) recycling rate of 21.6% and a collected volume of 1.03 billion pounds for PET post consumer containers in the United States for the year ended December 31, 2004. This is the highest recycling rate for post consumer PET containers since 2001, and represents record recycled PET collection volumes.

The use of post consumer recycled PET increased 59% from 2003 to 2004 to a record 878 million pounds. Recycled post consumer PET is used in a variety of applications, including fiber for carpeting and apparel, strapping, and food and non-food containers. In the United States, supply of post consumer recycled containers continues to be inadequate to meet the growing demand for recycled content products.

Gerry Claes, Director, Environmental Programs for Graham Packaging and Chairman of NAPCOR, stated, "We are pleased with the increased recycling rate of PET containers in 2004 which reversed the decline of the last three years. The record level of collected post consumer PET containers is a sign of the success of curbside and other collection programs in the United States. NAPCOR encourages everyone to continue to recycle their PET containers and to support the increasing end uses for this material."