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Compiled below are some of NAPCOR's most frequently asked questions about PET recycling and reclamation and the
answers to them. If you have additional questions that are not answered below, please
contact NAPCOR. Also see: PET Safety FAQs.
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| Bottle caps and neck rings are typically made of polypropylene plastic which has a different specific gravity than PET. This difference allows caps and neck rings to be mechanically removed in a float/sink process and recycled. Although most caps and neck rings are not a contaminant to the PET recycling process, in some cases, removing them will help with compaction. | |
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| The choice of specific baling equipment at your facility should be a function of your recycling program design and budget, specific market specifications, and facility throughput requirements. | |
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| Yes. However horizontal balers are considered superior, as they have a motor ad piston/cylinder configuration that can achieve greater compression ratings than most downstroke (also known as vertical) balers. | |
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| Not necessarily. Grinding requires significant investment in capital equipment and is subject to strict and difficult-to-meet quality control requirements. | |
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| Yes. Currently markets exist for separated amber bales and mixed colored PET bales. Contact NAPCOR for information about amber reclaimers at information@napcor.com or contact the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) for a market list. | |
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| At this time we are not seeing any negative effects from the current technologies. Companies introducing barrier technologies are encouraged to participate in the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers' (APR) "Champions for Change" design for recyclability process. | |
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| Yes, they are recyclable. Check with your local market to see if it accepts PET cups. | |
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| They are physically and chemically different from PET bottles. Currently there is no end use market for this type of plastic. | |
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| Yes. Most markets currently accept light blue bottles. They are typically mixed in with other transparent PET bottles in predominantly clear and green bales. A list of PET reclaimers can be accessed on this web site. | |
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| A list of NAPCOR's bottle manufacturer members can be viewed on this web site. | |
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| Yes. Contact the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) for a market list. | |
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| Yes. Contact the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) for a market list. | |
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| Yes, they are called split loads. Contact the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) for a market list. | |
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| Post-consumer markets are dependent on quantity, quality, market conditions and distance to market. PET is a commodity and is therefore subject to periodic fluctuations in the marketplace. | |
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| The marketplace determines the location of reclamation plants based on current conditions including supply and demand for various geographical areas. It is not NAPCOR’s position to either assist in recruiting reclamation facilities or determine where such facilities should be placed. It is important to note that North American PET reclaimers purchase truckload quantities from all areas of the United States. | |
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| They may not be up-to-date on market conditions. All PET bottles and jars are recyclable. You may wish to forward this information to your market representatives or refer them here for more information. | |
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| Certain molds make it difficult to create a legible code. In addition, the size and clarity of the recycling codes are not consistent in plastic coding laws enacted in various states. | |
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| NAPCOR has produced an educational video that includes an overview of the PET container creation and recycling processes. If you would like a copy this free video, please visit the NAPCOR Store to place your order. | |
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| No. PET bottles make up less than 2% of the volume of municipal solid waste. | |
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| PET plastic bottles are recyclable and will decrease the volume of waste generated at your venue, as well as potentially generate revenue from the collected containers. | |
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| Consumers like PET packaging because it is lightweight, shatter-resistant and resealable - just right for people
on-the-go. | |
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