The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers The Voice of Plastics Recycling

The voice of plastics recycling

The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers

The Voice of Plastics Recycling


APR

THE ASSOCIATION OF POST CONSUMER PLASTIC RECYCLERS

SERDC Annual Meeting

Memphis, TN October 27, 2011


APR

95% of Postconsumer Plastic Reclamation capacity in North America


APR Programs

• Market Development,

• Technical Programs

• Rigids Plastic Recycling Program

• Education

• Communication

• Regulatory/Advocacy


Industry Key Issues

• Key issues:– Supply

• Export Market

– Contamination• Degradables and Bio-resins• Resin Identification Code• Labelling


Communications

• Communicate to key audiences

• Blocking and Tackling– Local Recycling Officials– General Public– Elected Officials– Website/KidsRecycling Zone.com

• Webinars• Industry Information Clearinghouse• Plastics Recycling Conference


Key messages

• Without APR there is no Plastics Recycling

• Plastics are not sustainable w/o recycling


Legislative/Regulatory Activity

• California

• KT, NY, MA, ME, VT, IA

• ASTM/SPI Resin Identification Code

• Wal-Mart, Canada, et al


Technical Activities

• Design for Recycling Guidelines

• PET Critical Guidance Document

• HDPE Critical Guidance Document

• Model Bale Specifications

• Color Measurement Projects


Technical Programs/Issues

• Champions For Change

• Shrink Sleeves

• Bleeding Labels

• Labelling– RIC Code– ‘Compatible With’

• Contamination


Rigids Recycling Program

Nationwide Bale Audit

Bale Specificatons Published

Recycled Resins Fit for Use Survey

Grocery Store Project


Rigids Recycling Program

• Some specific resins collected- PS,PP,HDPE,tubs and lids

• Mixed rigid plastic materials collected haphazardly with loosely defined or no specifications

• Limited US and Canadian reclamation capacity

• Most sold export


2010 Recycling Rate ReportHDPE

The total pounds of plastic bottles recycled reached a record high 2,579 million pounds.

• The total plastic bottle recycling rate was 28.8%, up from 27.8% in 2010..

• The annual increase in pounds of plastic bottles recycled was 5.0%.

• The 20 year compounded annual growth rate for plastic bottle recycling was 9.2%.


2010 Recycling Rate ReportPET

• The amount of post consumer PET bottles collected for recycling and sold in the United States in 2010 was 1,557.2 million pounds.

• 775.9 - Purchased by U.S. Reclaimers• 719.6 - Purchased by Export Markets• 61.7 - PET bottle component of mixed bales

exported• This represents a 113 MMlb increase in the

amount of bottles collected, resulting in an increase in the overall PET bottle recycling rate to 29.1%.


2010 Recycling Rate Report

HDPE bottles collected rose by 2.5 million pounds to 984.1 million pounds.

• The HDPE bottle recycling rate rose to 29.9% in 2010 from 29.2% in 2009

• Exports of United States-collected HDPE bottle material fell to 197 million pounds, 20.0%

• Imports of postconsumer HDPE to the United States decreased by 38% to 24.8 million pounds


2010 Recycling Rate Report

Polypropylene bottle recycling totaled 35.4 million pounds, an increase of 31% over 2009

• 67% of the total processed domestically as deliberate PP material

• As opposed to mixed material flake combined with HDPE


RPET Issues

• Bottle growth slowing

• Bottle collection growing

• Curbside Volumes decreasing

• Bale supplies tight

• More conversion demand than supply

• End use demand remains strong

• New Investments Announced


RPET Applications

• Carpet• Fiber• Strapping• Garments• Fleece• Packaging• Automotive• Anything virgin Pet can do-including bottle-

bottle


RPET Issues

• 2/3rds of recycled PET into products other than bottles.

• Must get more bottles collected to have high recycled content in bottles and STILL have material for other uses.

• 50+% of collected PET leaves country• Need domestic buyers healthy because

export markets come and go


R-HDPE

• HDPE bottle growth stagnant

• HDPE bottle collection growing

• More bale demand than supply

• More reclamation capacity than supply

• More clean flake demand than supply

• Market dynamics changing

• Need new investments


R-HDPE USES

HDPE Uses

9%2%

7%

12%

22%

43%

4%

1%

lumber

pallets, crates andbuckets

film sheet

lawn & garden

pipe

non-food bottles

auto

other


PCR operations

• No clear public policy on PCR use– Mandate on supply, not demand

• Most orders come month to month, no long term contracts

• Higher costs for those users augmenting with PCR, i.e., not using as primary feedstock


Reclaimer issues

- Recycled content

- Light weighting / downsizing

- Bio resins/Degradables- Labelling

- LCA’s to understand/quantify sustainability


What is coming

Plastics recycling will rely more on technical innovation to sort, clean, process and convert more polymers from a mixed packaging stream to usable post consumer resins.

• Investment for innovation will remain difficult to come by without strong market signals


Future issues

• Not many bottles in the 3-7 category (about 3-5%)

• Product Stewardship for all packaging, not just bottles.

• Collection Infrastructure

• Intermediate Processing Infrastructure

• Contracts and Public Education


APR

• Supply not growing, but markets are• No quick cure-but commitments to

purchase give security and help investment

• Color Sorted Resin has greatest potential for growth and savings for end markets

• Export demand is expected to double every 4 years

• Good News is we can all expect to market more post-consumer plastic bottles


Finally

• [email protected]• 202-316-3046

• PLASTICSRECYCLING.ORG

• THANK YOU


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The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers The Voice of Plastics Recycling

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