Choosing Water Part 2: Plastic and the blue bin
September 9th, 2008 by Kishore
Continuing our conversation on water choices, Welcome to Part 2: Environmental factors - Recycling.
The first fact: 30% of domestic PET production goes towards bottled water currently.
PET plastic is “down cycled”, never remade into plastic bottles because of concerns over bacteria. The PET pellets are then reused for a number of new items: plastic decking to rubber soles on shoes. Check out the quick video to see the process (how plastic would be recycled in the Matrix).
2007 Recycling Rates (courtesy Container Recycling Institute)
| CA | US | |
| Aluminum | 79.1% | 53.8% |
| Glass | 66.7% | N/A |
| #1 PET | 54.1% | 28% |
States that have some sort of recycling buyback or tax (CRV) tend to have recycling rates 10-15% higher…kinda an interesting twist. But note the difference in recycling rates of aluminum to PET…25% greater for aluminum. This is the crux of the problem with PET plastic…it is recycled at low rates comparatively to other materials. While the rates continue to rise year to year, we’re still at a low point currently.
The PET that is recycled is washed and then is grinded into small pellets. It is shipped off to manufacturers of shoes, decking, and non-food bottles. Guess where many of those are located? Yep…China.
So let’s sum up the lifecycle of PET plastic:
Barrel of oil -> Plastic Resin Plant -> Bottler -> Retail Store -> Consumer -> 30-50% to recycler -> 33% shipped to China -> Manufactured into product -> Shipped back to USA.
But let’s backup, there is a 50% non-recycle rate. That’s straight to the landfill or the ocean. If oil prices remain high, there is a huge opportunity to reclaim the plastic from these dumps. Virgin plastic resin costs have jumped 25-30% in the last year alone (similar to oil price rises) pushing the industry towards using some recycled content. I smell an opportunity.
Here’s the evidence of the plastic problem even here in SF:
BTW for those that ask about using glass instead, check out this GHG emission analysis.
Takeaway:
Waste is a huge factor when considering PET. 50% or more of PET bottles are not recycled. In addition the recycling lifecycle of PET plastic has a long path. Continued high oil prices may lead to greater financial value in recycling the PET as well.
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September 12th, 2008 at 5:21 am
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September 15th, 2008 at 2:37 am
[...] to part 4 of 6 on our water choices. (Check out Part 1, 2, and [...]