Plastic reclaimers join container recycling policy debate

The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) has taken a bold step in endorsing the expansion of existing container deposit laws to include non-carbonated beverages, and opposing repeal of existing deposit laws. The trade group has also endorsed legislation requiring recycled content in certain containers, and rules banning disposal of certain plastic bottles in landfills.

According to Bill O’Grady, Vice President of Operations for Talco Plastics in Corona, California, and Chairman of APR, “. . . the number one issue for our industry [is] generating a stable supply of raw material for our facilities—in this case recyclable plastics. . . It became more apparent as time went on that as an organization, we needed to engage in public debate on issues relating to plastics recycling.”

An APR press release issued on June 14, 2006 stated that the policy move was driven by the severe shortage of plastic bottles (particularly PET bottles) available as feedstocks to plastic bottle reclaimers. Of the 4.7 billion pounds of PET and 3.5 billion pounds of HDPE plastic sold in 2004, only 1 billion pounds of PET (21.6%) and 0.9 billion pounds of HDPE (25.9%), were recovered for recycling. More than 6 billion pounds of plastic bottles that could have been recycled ended up being landfilled or incinerated.

This is the first time that an industry trade association has publicly endorsed container deposit legislation as a matter of policy. Proponents of deposit laws, or bottle bills, have been saying for years that these recycling collection systems are good for business. Now, although plastics recycling businesses have stopped short of endorsing new deposit laws, they are saying that updating existing laws is good for their businesses, and that repealing these laws will hurt their businesses.

Container deposit legislation is finally getting the recognition it deserves as a public policy measure that is not only good for the environment, but also good for business.