(APR) Rigid Plastics Recycling Program. Plastics are not sustainable without recycling

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1 (APR) Rigid Plastics Recycling Program Plastics are not sustainable without recycling Plastics recycling is based at the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers.

2 National trade association Representing companies with 90% of the post-consumer plastic processing capacity in North America. Technically it is the soul of plastic recycling!.

3 APR Goals are to: Increase supply of recycled plastics and reduce the contamination concerns for plastic recyclers Develop plastic packaging design protocols for greater recyclability Encourage design for recyclability with guidelines and programs Use awards to recognize packages designed to be recycling-compatible Recognize products made from recycled plastic material Develop a market for rigid non-bottles plastic material.

4 Simply stated APR s overall goal is to increase the amount of plastic material that is recycled in North America!

5 Consumers want to recycle more plastics AND brand names companies want to use a wider variety of recycled resins. Two ends of the equation are in sync! What is missing is a coordinated effort to collect, separate and recycle all plastics, particularly beyond #1 and #2 bottles. October 2008 the Rigids Plastics Recycling Program formally became a part of APR.

6 The great multitude of plastics and the people involved in creating those plastics requires a concerted effort by a wider range of participants. Important to understand what others are doing so there is no duplication of effort and other s activities can be leveraged Consequently, membership in the group include all rigid plastic stakeholders collectors, recyclers, brand users, resin producers. In addition, the program looks forward to a strong collaboration with public policy makers

7 Current Membership

8 Some of the long term program goals of the members include- National approach to rigid plastic recycling Infrastructure for recycling other than bottle plastics Post consumer PP recycled resin availability Central organization to provide consistent, standardized message on plastic recyclability

9 What s been accomplished to date? Defined rigids for purposes of program A rigid plastic material Not a #1 or #2 bottle 6 ounces to 6 gallons

10 American Chemistry Council 2007 US Post-Consumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastics Recycling Report Approximately 325 million pounds of rigids were recovered Two-thirds of the material was exported Type of material Oversized items 55% Packaging applications 45% Resin Type HDPE 44% PP 38%

11 American Chemistry Council 2007 US Post-Consumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastics Recycling Report Conclusions For business profitability, there needs to be 400 million pounds of consistent, clean supply of rigids Consistent consumer education is needed to increase recycling and minimize contamination Mixed rigids separation technology is needed to obtain highest value material.

12 Identified Rigid Plastic Stakeholders Generators/Households Recyclers/Reclaimers/Processors End Users Brand Companies Resin Suppliers Public Policy Makers

13 Answering three questions pertaining to rigid plastic recycling for each stakeholder group. What is the current state of the group? Issues of concern, problems or failures? Who influences the group? What are one or two ways the APR Rigid Plastics Recycling Program can impact the group?

14 Next steps for the program Meet in October to determine coming year s activities Report on the results of the Rigid Plastics Stakeholders Project Evaluate the following considerations The economics of recycling rigid plastics. Any technological barriers to this type of recycling. The lack of guarantees that the rigids of today will be the rigids of tomorrow (changes in caps, layers, barriers, etc.) That it is expensive to segregate rigid plastics because of the many different resin types and within those types, many different colors, melt flows, etc. New program with an exciting future!

15 Contact information Elizabeth A. Bedard, Director APR Rigid Plastics Recycling Program PO Box #2 Gilmanton IW, NH Telephone , Fax Website