Released December 4, 2008 click for Rate Reports page

NAPCOR AND APR REPORT 10% INCREASE IN 2007 PET COLLECTION TO A RECORD OF 1.4 BILLION POUNDS
2007 Rate Report Shows PET Container Recycling Rate Up for Fourth Year at 24.6%

SONOMA, CALIFORNIA, December 4, 2008 – The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) and the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) today announced that 1.396 billion pounds of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles were collected in the United States in 2007, the highest PET container collection volume recorded to date and a 10% increase over 2006.

This collection volume contributed to a recycling rate of 24.6%, marking the fourth year of recycling rate increase. The volume of PET containers available for recycling in the U.S. also grew in 2007 to 5.683 billion pounds, a 5% increase over 2006. This growth was driven primarily by strong sales of still water, teas, energy drinks, and isotonic beverages.

“We’re pleased to partner with NAPCOR on this important report,” said Bill O’Grady, APR Chairman and President of Talco Plastics, noting that the 2007 report marks the third year of this partnership. “APR is committed to increasing the recycling of PET and to supporting the use of products manufactured with recycled PET.”

The report also details the end-uses for a record 900 million pounds of recycled PET utilized in U.S. manufacturing applications, including fiber for carpet and apparel, strapping, sheet, film, food and non-food containers. More…

“It is encouraging to see another increase in the volume of containers collected in 2007 and in the PET recycling rate,” said Tom Busard, NAPCOR Chairman and Vice President, Global Procurement and Material Systems, Plastipak Packaging, Inc. “We are committed to working with our industry partners to promote and encourage the recycling of PET containers to meet the increased demand from the manufacturing applications that use recycled PET. The use of recycled feedstock supports a more sustainable, energy-efficient manufacturing chain with reduced greenhouse gas emissions.”

PET plastic containers are easily identified by the #1 resin identification code on or near the bottom the container. PET is a popular package for food and non-food products because it is lightweight, shatter-resistant, safe and recyclable. Some of the products packaged in PET containers include soft drinks, juice, water, peanut butter, salad dressings, cosmetics, household cleaners, and tennis balls.

Founded in 1987, the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) is the trade association for the PET plastic industry in the United States and Canada. NAPCOR is dedicated to the promotion of the PET package and to the recycling of post consumer PET containers.

The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) is the national trade association representing companies who acquire, reprocess and sell the output of more than 90 percent of the post-consumer plastic processing capacity in North America. Founded in 1992, its membership includes independent recycling companies of all sizes, processing numerous resins. APR strongly advocates the recycling of all post consumer plastic packaging.

More information about these two trade organizations and the full “2007 Report on Post Consumer PET Container Recycling Activity” can be found on the NAPCOR and APR websites, www.napcor.com and www.plasticsrecycling.org.