PET recycling increases for 2004

The recycling rate for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic used in packaging for rigid containers such as bottles and jars has increased to 1.003 billion pounds in 2004.

According to 2004 PET Recycling Rate Study published by National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) 21.6% of post-consumer PET containers were recycled which is the highest percentage since 2001.

I find it reassuring that finally Pet recycling seems to have taken off and it has occurred just in time too since the supply of PET container such as bottles and jars has also set a record of 4.637 billion pounds. Obviously, there is still a long way to go with recycling PET containers, but I find this news very encouraging. The recycling rate is also helped by fact that Recycled PET (RPET) has stable prices that now effectively can compete with virgin PET. Thanks to enforcement of Rigid Plastics Packaging Container Law in California which requires a minimum of 25% post-consumer recycled content in rigid plastic packaging for nonfood products, RPET bottles and jars have tripled.

While it is encouraging that post consumer recycling of PET packaging is increasing, there are still companies that use PET packaging that are dumping PET bottles and PET jars when they become excess or surplus rather than selling or brokering their surplus packaging with a company that specializes in liquidating surplus packaging such as Closeout Packaging.

It is amazing that some companies will let obsolete surplus packaging deteriorate in their warehouse and use up valuable real estate rather then turning their surplus packaging into cash. When was the last time you went through your warehouse to see what surplus packaging to could sell and turn stagnant inventory into working capital all while saving the environment?