Recycling Benefits
PLASTICS
- 95% of all plastic bottles manufactured are from PET (soda bottles) or HDPE (milk jugs & detergent bottles), 48% and 47% respectively.
- HDPE and PET bottles showed the highest recycling rates of any plastic bottle types, at 23.8% and 22.8%.
- Americans use 4 MILLION bottles per year, yet only 1 out of 4 bottles are recycled.
- Plastics accounted for 9.9% of municipal solid waste generation by weight in 1997.
- 5 recycled PET plastic soda bottles make enough fiber to fill 1 ski jacket, make 1 extra large tee shirt, or 1 square foot of carpet.
- The most common use for recycled PET is textiles. 56% goes into the manufacturing of fiber for things such as carpet and clothing.
- HALF of all polyester carpet made in the USA is made from recycled PET.
- HDPE (milk/detergent bottles) have many uses including plastic pipe manufacturing, plastic lumber, flower pots, trash cans, and new bottles for non-food applications.