Plastic bottle recycling sets record high of 2.4 billion pounds

In 2008, consumer plastic bottle recycling increased 75 million pounds to reach a record high of more than 2.4 billion pounds for the year. The total plastic bottle recycling rate of 27 percent is up almost three percentage points from 2007’s rate of 24.4 percent, according to a report released by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR).

The 19th annual National Post-Consumer Plastics Bottle Recycling Report noted that PET hit 27 percent, an increase of 55 million pounds – highest for the resin since 1997 – HDPE rose to 29 percent, up three percentage points from 2008’s rate of 26 percent, an increase of 16.1 million pounds. PP had an 11.4 percent recycling rate in 2008, and less than one percent for LLDPE and PVC.

HDPE bottles collected hopped by 16.1 million pounds to 936.7 million pounds, because of “vigorous collection in the first three quarters of the year,” according to the report.