Taking Recycling Market Responsibility by Jacquelyn A. Ottman Recycled content is fast overtaking virgin as the material of choice for a wide array of packaging. 2-liter Coke bottles, Kodak's trademark yellow film boxes, and McDonald's carry out bags are all made at least in part from paper or plastics diverted from trash heaps. But, as is increasingly being demonstrated in the marketplace many products, too, are now being made from the likes of old soda bottles, discarded tires and unused paints. They demonstrate the opportunities as well as the challenges inherent in helping to make it easy for consumers to close the recycling loop. Opportunities for Recycled Products.
Several factors suggest the future for new products made from trash is bright.
More than 75 percent of all consumers in communities with at least 6,000 inhabitants have access to recycling programs. Awareness for Recycling Logos and Benefits. Interest in the recycling logo is high because consumers can link it to real benefits. According to the poll, upwards of sixty-four percent of consumers know that recycled paper products help to conserve resources, extend the useful life of landfills, and help cut down on waste disposal costs. Consumer Interest in Recycled Products.