NAPCOR reports increase in PET recycling rate

Sonoma, CA— The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) 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.