Postconsumer recycled polyethylene terephthalate

Polyethylene terephthalate and HDPE bottles continue to comprise over 96% of the United States plastic bottle market. In 2011, the total annual post-consumer plastic bottles recycled in the United States increased to an all-time high of 2624 million pounds. The total bottle collection rate was 28.9% for 2011. Plastic bottles with recycling codes 3 to 7 makeup only 3.5% of the plastic bottle market. Of these bottles, polypropylene bottles were recycled at a rate of 2.2% and PVC recycled bottles were recycled at a rate of 0.8% in 2011 (Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers and the American Chemistry Council 2011). 

A. Pawlak, J. Morawiec, F. Pazzagli, M. Pracella, A. Galeski. Recycling of Postconsumer Poly(ethylene terephthalate) and High-Density Polyethylene by Compatibilized Blending. J. Appl. Polym. ScL, 86, 1473-1485 (2002). 

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