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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currently, a small portion of recycled hard plastics is used in composite material products, such as outdoor timber, pallets, and railway sleepers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n