The plastics industry is not an obstacle to recycling. But despite all the effort that many have put into recycling, thatґs not universally understood outside the industry.
In a 1994 column favoring a national deposit program, I wrote:
“Certainly this would appear to be a radical idea. But consider the benefits to the industry:
“It would provide recyclers with a plentiful supply of clean, uncontaminated raw material.
“Supporting, rather than opposing, the legislation would provide a shot in the arm for the industryґs environmental image.
“It would give a huge boost to the industryґs recycling rate — which may be needed if plastics packaging is to reach its goal of recycling 25% of bottles and rigid containers by 1995.”
It may surprise readers outside the plastics industry to learn that my column did not prompt an outcry from readers, or a slew of canceled subscriptions.
Thatґs because, despite the reputation that plastics may have, your average plastics industry executive, company owner or worker is not opposed to recycling.
As Iґve written before, many actually consider themselves environmentalists. And the fact that they work in plastics doesnґt present a moral dilemma. They know that plastics can help save energy and materials in many applications.
Why bring this up today? Because I spotted a column on HuffingtonPost.comґs “Green” page headlined, ·How to Increase Plastic Bottle Recycling.ц
I donґt want to pick on the author, Diane MacEachern, who also wrote “Big Green Purse: Use Your Spending Power to Create a Cleaner, Greener World.” Because I agree with her goal to boost plastics recycling. But her column seems to imply that plastics manufacturers are the obstacle.
“Consider single-use plastic water bottles,” she writes. “Companies that manufacture the billions of plastic water bottles flooding the market claim the product is ґeco-friendlyґ because the bottles are recyclable.
“In reality, only 12% of the 15 billion throwaway water bottles manufactured each year are being recycled. … That being the case, manufacturers should make good on their claim that their bottles are recyclable by putting a deposit on the bottles to ensure theyґre returned to a recycling facility.”
First — and this is a relatively minor point – the 2010 U.S. recycling rate for PET bottles was 29.1%. I think thatґs a more relevant number to cite than MacEachernґs 12% water bottle number.
But the more important point is that her column may give readers the impression that plastic bottle manufacturers are opposed to plastics recycling. And thatґs just not true.
If anything, bottle manufacturers would like access to more high-quality recycled PET, the kind that they could get from expanded bottle deposit programs.
Source: Waste & Recycling News
By Don Loepp is editor of Plastics News, a sister publication of Waste & Recycling News.