Presenting a Technical Report

1
CRI
CONTAINER
RECYCLING
INSTITUTE
The PET Supply Crisis A Problem in Need of a
Solution
Container Recycling Institute 2006
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Two Crucial RPET Supply Issues

• Supply from current collection infrastructures is
  stagnant and cannot meet demand for scrap bottles
• More and more volume is going to Asian markets

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PET Bottle Recycling Not
Keeping Pace with Sales 1992 - 2004
Mm lbs
Source 2004 National Post-Consumer Plastics
Recycling Report. R.W. Beck, Inc. for the
American Plastics Council. 2005.
4
RPET Exports are Growing(millions of pounds)
Source 2004 Report on Post Consumer PET
Container Recycling Activity. NAPCOR. 2005.
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1. Voluntary mechanisms are inadequate

2. Stakeholder initiatives have failed

1. Deposits have a proven record of success

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Voluntary systems are inadequate
Percent
Source BioCycle, American Plastics Council,
Aluminum Association, US Chamber of Commerce
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Stakeholder initiatives have failed to create new
supply of scrap bottles

• NAPCOR Initiatives
• BEAR Multi-Stakeholder Project
• APC Initiatives
• NSDA Efforts
• BPEC Efforts

8
Deposits have a proven record of success
Recycling Rates for PET Soda Bottles vs Custom
PET
Percent
53
34
10
15
Source 2004 National Post-Consumer Plastics
Recycling Report. R.W. Beck, Inc. for the
American Plastics Council. 2005.
11 states require deposits on PET Soda
bottles
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Why is the deposit system so
successful?

• Modeled after the beverage industrys system
  for collecting refillable beer, soft drink and
  milk bottles that was in place for many decades
• Refundable deposits provide a financial
  incentive to return container for recycling

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There is a solution to the PET supply crisis.
New and expanded container deposit laws would
increase the supply of scrap PET bottles.
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Waste News, November 24, 2003 with permission Leo
Michael, editorial cartoonist
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