A recent report on plastic recycling released by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) shows that the recycling rate of hard plastics (excluding plastic bottles) in the United States increased by 10% in 2012 compared to 2011. The amount of hard plastics recycled in 2012 exceeded 455,000 tons, more than three times the amount recycled in 2007.
The "2012 National Report on Postconsumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastics Recycling" concluded that approximately 8% of the increase in the above-mentioned recycling volume came from public waste plastic recycling systems in U.S. towns and cities.
Of these recycled hard plastics, approximately 57% are processed and recycled by recycling companies in the United States and Canada, but almost all of the remaining 43% are exported to mainland China for recycling.
Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) plastics constitute the majority of all post-consumer recycled rigid plastics, accounting for 72% in total, with PP accounting for 38% and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) accounting for 34%.
The main sources of these post-consumer hard plastics include plastic boxes, buckets, water pipes, automotive parts, and lawn or patio products. Post-consumer recycling volumes of other consumer products such as cutting boards, food storage containers, other kitchen utensils, toothbrushes, and razors are also increasing.
Currently, a small portion of recycled hard plastics is used in composite material products, such as outdoor timber, pallets, and railway sleepers.
Sources: Environmental Leader (2014-03-13) (Compiled by PIDC)
