The information in this Fact Sheet is based on the report, "The Assessment of the Recycling Industry and Recyclable Materials in North Carolina - 1995 Update," which was prepared for the NC Office of Waste Reduction by SCS Engineers in association with Kirkworks.
PETE plastic containers are used as packaging for soft drinks, water, sports drinks, personal care and cleaning products, edible oils, and condiments. PETE is also used to manufacture durable goods such as carpeting and non-durable goods such as film and strapping.
The most common PETE containers are soft drink bottles. "Custom" PETE containers, which are used for most other PETE products, are the fastest growing segment of the PETE manufacturing industry. As recycling program coordinators become aware of the recyclablility of custom PETE containers and include them in collection efforts, they could increase the quantity of PETE that is being recovered by as much as 25 percent.
A report prepared for Keep America Beautiful by Franklin Associates, Ltd., estimated the amount of PETE containers generated in the U.S. waste stream in 1992 and 2000. The report found that by the year 2000, PETE container generation would increase from 760,000 tons in 1992 to approximately 1,200,000 tons nationwide. Generation estimates for North Carolina and its border states were developed by prorating U.S. estimates by population.
A study commissioned by the National Association for Plastic Container Recovery (NAPCOR) estimated the 1994 U.S. recycling rate for PETE containers at 34 percent, which represents 282,500 tons of PETE recycled. The amount of PETE containers recovered from North Carolina and its border states was estimated by prorating the U.S. recovery estimates with the percentage of the population in the region having access to curbside collection recycling programs. According to information compiled by the Office of Waste Reduction for FY 93-94, North Carolina had a PETE bottle recovery rate of approximately 23 percent.
Using the prorating procedure described above, a recovery rate of 17 percent was estimated for North Carolina and its border states, and projected recovery rates for 1997 and 2001 are 19 percent and 21 percent, respectively. Exhibit 1 shows the estimated generation and recovery rate for North Carolina and its border states for 1994, 1997, and 2001.
The capacity for processing and using recycled PETE has expanded significantly over the past few years. Both the intermediate processing and the end-use markets for PETE in North Carolina and its border states are strong and stable. Demand for post-consumer PETE is expected to increase through the remainder of the decade, but industry estimates for the year 2000 vary, ranging from 317,500 to 700,000 tons. For the purposes of this fact sheet, annual increases in PETE consumption between 1992 and 1994 were extrapolated to project future PETE demand. Exhibit 2 shows the demand estimates for North Carolina and its border states.
Exhibit 2. Demand Estimates for PETE in
North Carolina | ||||
Demand (tons per year) | ||||
End Use |
1994 (post-consumer) |
1994 (post-industrial) |
1997
|
2001
|
Fiber |
146,000 |
140,000 |
380,700 |
557,300 |
Bottles |
300 |
0 |
400 |
600 |
Strapping |
500 |
1,300 |
3,400 |
8,300 |
Lumber |
0 |
200 |
200 |
200 |
Total |
146,800 |
141,500 |
384,700 |
566,400 |
|
Source: Manufacturer Surveys. | ||||
Exhibit 3 outlines the theoretical supply and demand relationship for PETE containers in North Carolina and its border states.
As shown in Exhibit 1, that relationship is based on PETE recovery rates of 17 percent, 19 percent, and 21 percent in 1994, 1997, and 2001, respectively.
Because processing capacity exceeds the local supply and major end use markets for recovered PETE such as Hoechst Celanese, Image Industries, and Wellman are located in the southeastern United States, local recycling programs in North Carolina should take steps to recover more PETE from the waste stream. Collecting "custom" PETE containers in addition to soft drink containers and increasing overall public participation rates in recycling programs can help local governments and other collectors take advantage of these markets.
If you wish additional information about waste reduction/recycling and/or assistance with your waste reduction concerns, E-Mail OWR at nowaste@p2pays.org.
The North Carolina Office of Waste Reduction provides free, non-regulatory technical assistance and training on methods to eliminate, reduce, or recycle wastes before they become pollutants or require disposal.