Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle recycling rates across the United States reached new heights in 2023, according to the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), based in Middleton, Wisconsin.

The US PET bottle collection rate was 33% in 2023, up 4% on 2022 – the highest recycling rate since 1996. The average amount of rPET used in US bottles and jars was 16.2% in 2023, up 3%, demonstrating increased demand for recycled PET nationwide.

PET plastic, easily identified by its #1 resin code, is clear, durable and versatile. It is accepted in virtually all US recycling programmes and is recycled at higher rates than other plastics. A PET plastic bottle can be fully recycled and can be made with up to 100% post-consumer recycled material. Research shows that compared to a 12-ounce aluminium can and a 12-ounce glass bottle, a 16.9-ounce PET plastic water bottle consumes 80% less energy during production, creates 80% less solid waste, uses 53% less water during production, has a 74% lower global warming potential and generates 68-83% fewer emissions contributing to acid rain and smog formation.

“PET plastic bottles play a vital role in a circular economy because they can be designed to be remade and our members are working hard to ensure they get recycled,” said Laura Stewart, NAPCOR’s executive director. “Our 2023 PET Recycling Report shows that while there were fewer PET bottles available to recycle in the US, there were still more PET bottles recycled in 2023, resulting in a higher recovery percentage. When manufacturers, consumers, retailers and recyclers work together to ensure PET is selected, collected, and recycled, our planet reaps the rewards.”

The US collected 1,962 million pounds of PET bottles for recycling in 2023, the highest annual weight for US bottle collection ever recorded, up from 1,911 million pounds in 2022, an increase of 2.7%.

The total weight of PET bottles available for recycling in 2023 was 5,952 million pounds, down 9.8% from 6,599 million pounds in 2022. Domestic sales of both virgin and recycled PET resin to non-food/beverage bottle applications such as textile fibres, personal care packaging and household cleaners, were down by significant margins compared to 2022.

As a result of voluntary brand commitments and legislation including recent mandatory recycled content laws, the trend of increasing rPET content in US bottles has accelerated in recent years after remaining flat between 2014 and 2017. In 2023, the rate of rPET content in US bottles reached an all-time high of 16.2%. The amount of rPET used in US bottles in 2023 increased to 966 million pounds from 870 million pounds in 2022, an 11% difference. Of the total usage of recycled PET in US and Canadian end markets, the fraction that went to bottle applications reached a new high of 59%, surpassing the previous record of 54% in 2022.

www.napcor.com