www.spglobal.com/commodity-insights/en/market-insights/blogs…
The supply and demand imbalance in the recycled plastic markets has become an all too familiar issue over the pandemic years. Supply of post-consumer waste has fallen because the drop in tourism and large-scale events has reduced demand for on-the-go products. Meanwhile, government and industry commitments to recycle plastics have continued to pile on demand, particularly in markets such as consumer goods, automotive and construction.
End-2021 data from CalRecycle revealed that only seven out of the 69 beverage manufacturers in California met the first recycled content threshold in 2020, ahead of the implementation of a state bill requiring a minimum of 15% post-consumer recycled polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, to be used in beverage bottles from January 2022. Part of the issue is that there is just not enough material.
Reclamation capacity in the US would need to increase by at least 50% from current capacity to meet announced recycled PET commitments by companies operating in the US, according to a 2021 study by the American Institute for Packaging and the Environment. This problem is not specific to the US…
Supply of post-consumer waste has fallen because the drop in tourism and large-scale events has reduced demand for on-the-go products.
Funny because I read the exact opposite…higher demand for restaurant to go orders was driving up demand. And I observed some places doing odd packaging because they didn’t have the right sized containers.
There is a bio plastic that decomposes months after its production.
There are a few issues. It was used by Frito Lay and people objected to how loud the bag was. This can be cured with manufacturing techniques now some 12 years later…possibly…but it is very unclear to me that anyone is looking to marry newer manufacturing techniques with bio plastics. Instead the main thrust of science right now is less expensive recycling. That last solution is lacking merit in my opinion.
It’s an old study (from 2007) but over 20% of the US population does not recycle. They offer a whole array of excuses. I suppose this is like Covid vaccination. No matter what the program, a fraction of the population refuses to participate.
While we work on better markets for recycled plastics, we could also use more participation.
Published stats show the most recycled item is lead acid batteries. Followed by steel tin cans and corrugated cardboard. Newspapers are high on the list.
We need to do better. Regardless of your view on global warming, better recycling is good for all of us.