The Association of Plastic Recyclers

Plastics Recycling Library

Caps On FAQs

Caps On FAQs

Position Statements

Position Statements

Plastics Recycling Glossary

Plastics Recycling Glossary

Plastics Recycling Terms & Tools

Plastics Recycling Terms & Tools

Postconsumer Recycled Resin Laws

Postconsumer Recycled Resin Laws

Bottle Bills

Bottle Bills

The term “bottle bill” or “container deposit law” refers to a law which requires a minimum refundable deposit on beer, soft drink or other beverage container to encourage the return of these containers for recycling. Learn more about active bottle bills.

2023 Microplastics Mitigation/Removal/ Treatment in the Plastic Recycling Process

2023 Microplastics Mitigation/Removal/ Treatment in the Plastic Recycling Process

This paper provides information on the wastewater treatment processes typically used in North American plastic reclaiming plants and identifies best manufacturing practices to prevent microplastics from entering the environment.

APR’s Response to FTC’s Request for Comments on Green Guides

APR’s Response to FTC’s Request for Comments on Green Guides

APR urges the FTC to revise the recyclability and recycled content claims to provide stronger guidance to promote more accurate information that encourages greater consumer participation in recycling.

2022 Year in Review: Reflections on Progress, Development, and Meeting the Challenges Facing the Plastics Recycling Industry

2022 Year in Review: Reflections on Progress, Development, and Meeting the Challenges Facing the Plastics Recycling Industry

Take a look back at the achievements of the plastics recycling industry in 2022 and how APR is meeting the challenges facing our industry in the coming year.

2022 Climate Impacts of Plastics Report

2022 Climate Impacts of Plastics Report

This 2022 Climate Impacts of Plastics report details the important role that plastics plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Recommit, Reimagine, Rework Recycling

Recommit, Reimagine, Rework Recycling

This report gets into how public policy and investment in post-consumer plastic collection and processing can help to meet sustainability ambitions.
Recycling Terms Survey

Recycling Terms Survey

This report details the results of a survey commissioned by the APR concerning recycled content and recyclability claims.

2021 U.S. Post-consumer Plastic Recycling Data Report

2021 U.S. Post-consumer Plastic Recycling Data Report

This report presents the findings of the major post-consumer plastic categories recovered for recycling, including Bottles, Non-bottle Rigid Plastics, Film, and Other Plastics. Brought to you by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), the Recycling Partnership, and the U.S. Plastics Pact.

2021 Year in Review: Progress and Success Despite Ongoing Challenges

2021 Year in Review: Progress and Success Despite Ongoing Challenges

2021 saw both positive developments and continued challenges for plastic recycling. We directed additional technical, media and advocacy resources to ensure the issues of importance to plastic recyclers are addressed. Check out some of the accomplishments that APR and our members achieved in the past year despite the ongoing challenges we all faced.
Plastic Sorting

Plastic Sorting

APR, American Chemistry Council and More Recycling developed The APR Guide for Plastic Sorting Best Management Practices (BMPs) to facilitate greater consistency in data collection for plastic sorting standardization.

2020 Year in Review: Success Despite Unprecedented Challenges

2020 Year in Review: Success Despite Unprecedented Challenges

As we look forward to turning the corner on the COVID-19 pandemic, we reflect on some of the accomplishments that APR and our members achieved in the past year despite the odds we all faced.
2020 U.S. Post-Consumer Recycling Data Report

2020 U.S. Post-Consumer Recycling Data Report

This report presents the findings of the major post-consumer plastic categories recovered for recycling, including Bottles, Non-bottle Rigid Plastics, Film, and Other Plastics. Brought to you by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), the Foundation for Plastic Recycling, the Recycling Partnership, and the U.S. Plastics Pact.
2020 State of Curbside Report

2020 State of Curbside Report

This Recycling Partnership report is an analysis of the dimensions, performance, stresses, and opportunities for improvement to 2020 curbside recycling in the U.S.

2019 U.S. Post-Consumer Recycling Data Report

2019 U.S. Post-Consumer Recycling Data Report

This is the first year the major plastic categories have been reported together in one report. Brought to you by the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council, The Association of Plastic Recyclers, and the Foundation for Plastic Recycling.
2018 National Post-Consumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Recycling Report

2018 National Post-Consumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Recycling Report

The 2018 National Post-Consumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Recycling Report is the twelfth annual report on pounds of post-consumer non-bottle rigid plastics—packaging and non-packaging—recovered for recycling in the US. Research for this report was conducted by MORE Recycling (MORE) for the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council.
2018 National Postconsumer Plastic Bottle Recycling Rate Report

2018 National Postconsumer Plastic Bottle Recycling Rate Report

This 2018 study was a cooperative effort between the Plastics Division of ACC and APR with the goal of quantifying the amount of HDPE and PP bottles collected for recycling, as well as the rate of recycling of those bottles. This study includes postconsumer recycling values and comments for PET.

2018 National Post-Consumer Plastic Bag & Film Recycling Report

2018 National Post-Consumer Plastic Bag & Film Recycling Report

This National Postconsumer Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Report details the amount of plastic bags and film recovered in 2018, in the U.S., for recycling.
2018 Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity Report

2018 Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity Report

This report provides a detailed overview of the recycling of injection stretch blow molded polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and jars in the United States (US), and a general summary of the recycling of PET thermoforms during 2018.
2018 State’s Largest Cities Plastic Recycling

2018 State’s Largest Cities Plastic Recycling

This 2018 survey evaluated each state’s largest municipality’s recycling website information. Conducted to get a sense of how and what plastics are currently being collected, it is by no means a definitive source of information.

2017 National Postconsumer Plastic Bottle Recycling Rate Report

2017 National Postconsumer Plastic Bottle Recycling Rate Report

This 2017 study was a cooperative effort between the Plastics Division of ACC and APR with the goal of quantifying the amount of HDPE and PP bottles collected for recycling, as well as the rate of recycling of those bottles. This study includes postconsumer recycling values and comments for PET.

2017 Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity Report

2017 Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity Report

This 2017 report provides a detailed overview of the recycling of injection stretch blow molded PET bottles and jars in the U.S. and a general summary of the recycling of PET thermoforms.
2017 National Postconsumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Recycling Report

2017 National Postconsumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Recycling Report

The 2017 annual report on U.S. pounds of postconsumer non-bottle rigid plastics (packaging and non-packaging) recovered for recycling.

2017 National Postconsumer Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Report

2017 National Postconsumer Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Report

This National Postconsumer Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Report details the amount of plastic bags and film recovered in 2017, in the U.S., for recycling.

2016 National Postconsumer Plastic Bottle Recycling Rate Report

2016 National Postconsumer Plastic Bottle Recycling Rate Report

This 2016 study was a cooperative effort between the Plastics Division of ACC and APR with the goal of quantifying the amount of HDPE and PP bottles collected for recycling, as well as the rate of recycling of those bottles. This study includes postconsumer recycling values and comments for PET.

2016 Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity Report

2016 Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity Report

This 2016 report provides a detailed overview of the recycling of injection stretch blow molded PET bottles and jars in the U.S. and a general summary of the recycling of PET thermoforms.

2016 National Postconsumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Recycling Report

2016 National Postconsumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Recycling Report

The 2016 annual report on U.S. pounds of postconsumer non-bottle rigid plastics (packaging and non-packaging) recovered for recycling.

2016 National Postconsumer Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Report

2016 National Postconsumer Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Report

This National Postconsumer Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Report details the amount of plastic bags and film recovered in 2016, in the U.S., for recycling.

2016 State of Curbside Report

2016 State of Curbside Report

This Recycling Partnership report is an analysis of the dimensions, performance, stresses, and opportunities for improvement to 2016 curbside recycling in the U.S.

2015 National Postconsumer Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Report

2015 National Postconsumer Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Report

This National Postconsumer Plastic Bag and Film Recycling Report details the amount of plastic bags and film recovered in 2015, in the U.S., for recycling.

2015 National Postconsumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Recycling Report

2015 National Postconsumer Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic Recycling Report

The 2015 annual report on U.S. pounds of postconsumer non-bottle rigid plastics (packaging and non-packaging) recovered for recycling.

2015 Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity Report

2015 Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity Report

This 2015 report provides a detailed overview of the recycling of injection stretch blow molded PET bottles and jars in the U.S. and a general summary of the recycling of PET thermoforms.

2021 Mixed #3-7 Bale Composition Study

2021 Mixed #3-7 Bale Composition Study

This study, conducted by RRS with sponsorship from APR and others, contains an audit of #3-7 bales, sorted by form and resin categories and shows average percentage of each category in a mixed bale.
2020 Greenhouse Gas Generation: Plastics vs. Alternatives for Packaging

2020 Greenhouse Gas Generation: Plastics vs. Alternatives for Packaging

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) contracted with Franklin Associates, a division of Eastern Research Group (ERG), to examine the impact of switching from plastic packaging, including rigid bottles and containers, caps, closures, bags, flexibles, and films, to function-similar and adequate metal, glass, and paper/cardboard materials.

2020 Virgin vs. Recycled Plastic Life Cycle Assessment: Energy Profile and Environmental Burdens

2020 Virgin vs. Recycled Plastic Life Cycle Assessment: Energy Profile and Environmental Burdens

APR contracted with Franklin Associates to examine the life cycle impacts of postconsumer recycled plastic pellets vs. virgin plastic pellets from petrochemical sources. This study is one of many over the last two decades and reflects current mechanical recycling practice.

2019 Mandating the Minimum: Observations on California’s Plastic Packaging Law

2019 Mandating the Minimum: Observations on California’s Plastic Packaging Law

In this white paper Senior Recycling Specialist, Jim Hill, explores California’s Rigid Plastic Packaging Container (RPPC) law that has been in action for nearly three decades.

2018 Life Cycle Impacts for Postconsumer Recycled Resins: PET, HDPE, PP

2018 Life Cycle Impacts for Postconsumer Recycled Resins: PET, HDPE, PP

This study analyzed the energy requirements and environmental impacts of postconsumer recycled plastic resin as compared to virgin plastic resin, for PET, HDPE, and PP.

2015 National Mixed Rigid Plastic Bale Composition Study - Executive Summary

2015 National Mixed Rigid Plastic Bale Composition Study - Executive Summary

This study contains a breakout of each type of bale, sorted by product and resin categories and shows average percentage of each category in the bale. This executive summary contains high level resutls of the bale sort.

2015 National Mixed Rigid Plastic Bale Composition Study

2015 National Mixed Rigid Plastic Bale Composition Study

This study contains a breakout of each type of bale, sorted by product and resin categories and shows average percentage of each category in the bale. Appendixes includes detailed sort data broken down both by bale type/product category and by bale type/ resin.

2015 MRF Material Flow Study

2015 MRF Material Flow Study

This 2015 study evaluated the flow of packages in a variety of materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and what potential changes to the sorting processes could improve recovery. Five national trade associations, including ACC, APR, CCNA, FPI, and NAPCOR joined together to commission this study.

2010 Life Cycle Inventory of 100% Postconsumer HDPE and PET Recycled Resin from Postconsumer Containers and Packaging

2010 Life Cycle Inventory of 100% Postconsumer HDPE and PET Recycled Resin from Postconsumer Containers and Packaging

This study analyzed the energy requirements and environmental impacts of postconsumer recycled plastic resin as compared to virgin plastic resin, for HDPE and PET.

PP

PP "Fit for Use" Survey Results (2015-2016)

APR conducted these Polypropylene Postconsumer Resin “Fit for Use” Demand Surveys in 2015 and 2016 in order to assess brand owners’ and manufacturers’ need for polypropylene PCR. Quantifying the demand demonstrates to potential PP PCR suppliers the quantities and qualities desired.
APR Position: Biopolymer Use in Plastic Packaging

APR Position: Biopolymer Use in Plastic Packaging

APR supports innovation in new materials and has recognized the use of bio-based non-conventional plastics in certain packaging applications.

APR Position: Degradable Additives Use in Bottles, Forms, and Films

APR Position: Degradable Additives Use in Bottles, Forms, and Films

The APR recognizes that degradable additives that weaken products or shorten the useful life of durable plastics have a strongly negative impact on postconsumer plastics recycling.

APR Position: Landfill Bans

APR Position: Landfill Bans

The APR supports legislation to ban postconsumer plastic bottles from being landfilled.

APR Position: Postconsumer Recycled Content

APR Position: Postconsumer Recycled Content

The APR supports mandatory postconsumer recycled content legislation.

APR Position: Biopolymer Use in Bottles

APR Position: Biopolymer Use in Bottles

The APR opposes biopolymer use in bottles until critical mass levels are achieved that allow for efficient system-wide reclamation.

APR Position: State Bottle Deposit Laws

APR Position: State Bottle Deposit Laws

The APR supports deposit collection programs, including non-carbonated beverage bottles such as used water and juice containers.
APR Position: Mass Balance for Postconsumer Resin (PCR)

APR Position: Mass Balance for Postconsumer Resin (PCR)

APR supports a mass balance and/or corporate averaging methodology for resin manufacturers that produce recycled content resin in a chemical recycling system in which materials are not segregated by material type.
APR Position: Chemical Recycling

APR Position: Chemical Recycling

The APR supports the opportunity to accelerate the plastics circular economy, and reduce dependency on non-renewable resources, through the intersection of mechanical and chemical recycling technologies. Design for recycling is, and will continue to be, essential for a circular economy...
How to make your packages Circular By Design

How to make your packages Circular By Design

The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) envisions a world with a circular economy for plastic goods - one in which companies manufacture recyclable products and consumers buy products made from recycled materials.

The Chain of Plastics Recycling

The Chain of Plastics Recycling

Everybody has been talking about plastics recycling lately, but do you know how the chain of recycling works? This short video walks you through the chain of recycling from consumer back to store.

Your Bottle Means Jobs

Your Bottle Means Jobs

This video from the Carolinas Plastics Recycling Council and APR highlights the economic impact of plastics recycling in the Carolinas at a time when China is tightening up what imported recycling commodity materials it will accept.

NowThis News Recycling: How it Works

NowThis News Recycling: How it Works

In this short video a producer from NowThis News follows materials from their office recycling bin all the way to Sims Municipal Recycling.

The Coca-Cola Company and Bill Nye Demystify Recycling

The Coca-Cola Company and Bill Nye Demystify Recycling

An animated, stop-motion short film that illustrates the recycling process for plastic bottles, from the time it’s placed in a recycling bin to it coming back on the shelf as a recycled bottle - in other words, how both the company and consumers can work together to “close the loop.”

Recycling Journey of a Plastic Cap

Recycling Journey of a Plastic Cap

Learn how a typical plastic cap travels through the entire recycling process. These same steps can be taken to recycle plastic caps on other containers like laundry detergent, cleaning products, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, as well as condiment, snack and other food bottles.

Recycling Journey of a Plastic Non-Bottle Container

Recycling Journey of a Plastic Non-Bottle Container

Learn how a typical non-bottle container travels through the entire recycling process. These same steps can be taken to recycle many other types of non-bottle containers including tubs for butter/sour cream, smaller single serve yogurt containers, cups, to-go clamshells, small storage crates and small buckets.

Recycling Journey of Residential Bulky Rigid Plastics

Recycling Journey of Residential Bulky Rigid Plastics

Learn how a typical bulky rigid plastic item travels through the entire recycling process. These same steps can be taken to recycle many other types of bulky rigids including crates, buckets, baskets, totes and lawn furniture.

‘Your Bottle Means Jobs’ Video on Economic Impact of Plastic Recycling in the Carolinas

‘Your Bottle Means Jobs’ Video on Economic Impact of Plastic Recycling in the Carolinas

Launched from the "Your Bottle Means Jobs" campaign in partnership with NAPCOR, this video shows a plastic bottle journey from the recycling bin to a new, marketable product. The video highlights the economic impact of the plastic recycling industry in the Carolinas.

AMUT’s HDPE – PP Washing Line

AMUT’s HDPE – PP Washing Line

Get a tour of new HDPE/PP washing line for rigid plastic recycling, installed by AMUT Group in England.

PetStar’s Institutional Video

PetStar’s Institutional Video

PetStar showcases their recycling operations as well as the benefits of PET packaging and recycling.

Plastic Recycling, Inc. Recycles Foam #6 from a MRF

Plastic Recycling, Inc. Recycles Foam #6 from a MRF

Video

This video showcases a recycling facility operated by Plastic Recycling, Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana that is designed to process mixed bales of solid and foam polystyrene from curbside residential recycling programs.

Sims Municipal Recycling: Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility

Sims Municipal Recycling: Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility

New Yorkers have been required to recycle for over 25 years. While it's part of everyday life, what happens after the bags are loaded into a truck largely remains a mystery. Spend a day in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn to take a look at the Sims Municipal Recycling facility.

Don’t Be Trashy. Recycle.

Don’t Be Trashy. Recycle.

Plastics Make it Possible® produced this video with the goal of helping people understand what happens to our used plastics after we toss them in the bin.

Recycling Grocery Rigid Plastics Video Series

Recycling Grocery Rigid Plastics Video Series

This educational video series are useful tools for grocery stores that want to “green” their operations through rigid plastic recycling programs.

The Lifecycle of a PET Bottle

The Lifecycle of a PET Bottle

In North America water bottles account for more than 2 million tons of waste each year. The value chain can improve this through recycling allowing rPet to be recycled back into another PET container.

Plastic Bag & Film Recycling

Plastic Bag & Film Recycling

Discover how Trex recycles plastic bags and film, brought to you by ACC. Learn more about the demand for plastic bags and film and how plastics from your home are collected, processed, and later manufactured into new products.

Recycling Polystyrene and Expanded Polystyrene

Recycling Polystyrene and Expanded Polystyrene

Todd Sutton, the Waste Sleuth, investigates the recycling of the #6 plastics. His conclusions? PS and EPS are highly recyclable, even in curbside programs, and the demand from manufacturers who use the recycled material to make new products exceeds the current supply.

EcoStar Recycling Facility Tour

EcoStar Recycling Facility Tour

Take a tour of the EcoStar Recycling Facility in Fitchburg, WI where they recycle beverage bottles and thermoforms from curbside recycling and transform them into marketable packaging for consumers.

Waste Management Single-Stream Recycling: Tour of a Philadelphia MRF

Waste Management Single-Stream Recycling: Tour of a Philadelphia MRF

Tour a MRF facility where recycling with single-stream technology is helping some communities recycle more waste from their garbage collection.

Plastics Recycling in Duff’s Kitchen

Plastics Recycling in Duff’s Kitchen

Plastics Make it Possible® has teamed up with celebrity chef and TV personality Duff Goldman for the Duff's Kitchen video series. Watch as Duff shows you how plastics make it easy to help the environment by reducing food waste and packaging waste in the kitchen.

Labels' Impact on the PET Thermoform Recycling Stream

Labels' Impact on the PET Thermoform Recycling Stream

PET thermoforms provide many benefits to fresh food including food safety, shelf life extension to reduce food waste, transportation protection and product transparency. Yerecic Label is committed to being a thought leader in the development of an industry wide transition to packaging that is compatible with recycling.

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