The Association of Postconsumer Plastic

Recyclers

The Voice of Plastics

The voice of plastics recycling APR

THE ASSOCIATION OF POST CONSUMER PLASTIC RECYCLERS

Maryland Recycling Network May 17, 2012

The voice of plastics recycling APR

95% of Postconsumer Plastic Reclamation capacity in North America

Plastics Not sustainable without recycling.

Plastics not recycled without APR-the voice of

The voice of plastics recycling

APR Programs

• Market Development • Technical Programs • Rigids Plastic Recycling Program • Communication/Education • Regulatory/Advocacy-CA/NC • Film Reclamation

The voice of plastics recycling Industry Key Issues

• Key issues: – Supply • Export Market – Contamination • Degradables • Resin Identification Code • Labelling-compatable with/shrink sleeves • Bleeding labels • Yield Loss

The voice of plastics recycling Technical Activities

• Plastic Recyclability Guidelines • PET Critical Guidance Document • HDPE Critical Guidance Document • Model Bale Specifications • Color Measurement Projects • Resin Identification Code-when is a 1 a 1?

The voice of plastics recycling Rigids Recycling Program

• Nationwide Bale Audit • Bale Specificatons Published • Recycled Resins Fit for Use Survey • Grocery Store Project • Growth in PP demand

The voice of plastics recycling 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

The voice of plastics recycling 2010 Recycling Rate Report HDPE

The total pounds of plastic recycled reached a record high 2,579 million pounds. • The total plastic 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 recycling was 9.2%.

The voice of plastics recycling

2010 Recycling Rate Report PET • 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 rate to 29.1%.

The voice of plastics recycling 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

The voice of plastics recycling 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

The voice of plastics recycling 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

The voice of plastics recycling 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 •

The voice of plastics recycling Future issues

• Not many bottles in the 3-7 category (about 3-5%) • for all packaging, not just bottles. • Collection Infrastructure • Intermediate Processing Infrastructure • Contracts and Public Education

The voice of plastics recycling 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

The voice of plastics recycling Finally

• [email protected] • 202-316-3046

• PLASTICSRECYCLING.ORG

• THANK YOU

The voice of plastics recycling