Container Types Used For Beer in the U.S., 1981-2010

In the United States, the fraction of metal cans has remained fairly constant at around half of all beer containers over the past two decades.  Glass bottles have undergone a large 15% increase and now constitute 38.2% of beer containers, while draught beer has been on a slow decline.  Refillable beer bottles made up 12% of the mix in 1981, but were entirely phased out by 2007.  Plastic beer containers were introduced in 2005, but because plastic is more permeable to oxidation, only 0.3% of beer is packaged in PET.

Canada's beer industry still utilizes refillable glass bottles.  “Approximately 62% of beer containers sold in Ontario are refillable bottles. Each Ontario refillable beer bottle is used 12-15 times, representing a 93% savings of the pollution related to virgin material extraction.” On top of that, "97 per cent of non-refillable beer bottles [are] recovered".  The Beer Store Stewardship Report 2010 

Per capita beverage sales, recycling, and wasting

From 1970-2006, the average American's consumption increased, while wasting increased at almost the same rate. Recycling increased and decreased again.

The average American drained the contents of 721 bottles and cans in 2006—a startling 2 per person per day--compared to about 645 in 2000. Historic figures CRI has tracked show per capita consumption of 319 in 1980, and an estimated 254 in 1972.

Growth in Packaged Beverage Sales: 2000-2006

Description followsSales of traditional containers have grown dramatically: from 182 billion units sold in 2000 to 215 billion sold in 2006

Traditional beverage containers are defined as refillable and one-way glass bottles, PET and HDPE plastic bottles (excluding milk jugs), steel (bi-metal) cans, and aluminum cans.

Beverage sales in the US, 2000-2006 (All packaging types)
2000 2002 2005 2006
Beverage Type billion units market share billion units market share billion units market share billion units market share

Carbonated

               
Carbonated Soft drinks 90.4 48% 88.6 46% 88.6 41% 88 39%
Beer 59.5 31% 59.7 31% 61.7 29% 63.3 28%
Domestic Sparkling water 1.2 1% 1.6 1% 1.4 1% 1.5 1%
Subtotal carbonated 151.2 80% 149.9 78% 151.7 71% 152.8 68%

Noncarbonated, non-alcoholic

               
Domestic noncarbonated water 11.7 6% 16.8 9% 29.8 14% 35.8 16%
Sports drinks 2.5 1% 3.6 2% 4.8 2% 5.5 2%
Fruit beverages 15.5 8% 16.3 8% 16.9 8% 16.4 7%
Ready-to-drink tea 4.8 3% 3.7 2% 4.7 2% 6.1 3%
Energy drinks 0.2 0% 0.5 0% 1.8 1% 2.8 1%
Subtotal noncarbonated nonalcoholic 34.7 18% 40.9 21% 58 27% 66.6 29%

Noncarbonated alcoholic

               
Domestic Table wine 2.2 1% 1.9 1% 2.6 1% 2.6 1%
spirits (liquor) 1.9 1% 2 1% 2.2 1% 2.2 1%
Subtotal Noncarbonated alcoholic 4.1 2% 3.9 2% 4.8 2% 4.8 2%
Subtotal noncarbonated 38.8 20% 44.80 23% 62.80 29% 71.40 31%
total 190 100% 194.7 101% 214.5 100% 224.2 99%

Recycling in bottle bill states and non-bottle bill states

Among the 50 United States, the 11 states with bottle bills were responsible for nearly 50% of the total beverage containers recycled in 2006.

Pie chart showing recycling rate data in following table

State Number of containers recycled (billions)
California 13893
Connecticut 1368
Delaware 143
Hawaii 558
Iowa 1809
Maine 804
Massachusetts 2539
Michigan 5580
New York 7769
Oregon 1487
Vermont 334
Other States 38018
Total 36284

Popular Links

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New beverage container deposit program bills. Expansion and repeal proposals. Sales, redemption rate and waste trends. Refillable bottle infrastructure. Extended producer responsibility.

CRI covers them all – and more – as the leading source of original research, objective analysis and responsible advocacy on the recycling of beverage containers.

Get the latest insights on our Publications and Letters and Briefings pages. Also visit our California Crisis page for details on the extensive shortcomings of the state’s beverage container deposit program – and ways to help fix them.

Plus, sign up for our Weekly Headlines e-newsletter for the latest beverage container deposit and recycling industry news, and check back for new information as we continue working to make North America a global model for the collection and quality recycling of packaging materials.

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Find a wealth of data on metrics such as recycling rates, waste and sales for all beverage container types on CRI’s Data Archive page. Charts and graphs present key information in a user-friendly way.

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This counter represents the number of beverage cans and bottles that have been landfilled, littered and incinerated in the US so far this year
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