page_title: PET bottle recycling
section_title: Post-consumer waste
hierarchical_section_title: PET bottle recycling / Process / Post-consumer waste
caption_attribution_description: Pfandrückgabeautomat bei Aldi Süd (Hersteller: Tomra), Standort: München
context_page_description: Bottles made of polyethylene terephthalate can be recycled and used to manufacture new bottles and containers, thermoform packaging, strapping and are also used in fiber applications such as carpet and apparel. In many countries, PET plastics are coded with the resin identification code number "1" inside the universal recycling symbol, usually located on the bottom of the container. The National Association for PET Container Resources defines PET as: "Polyethylene terephthalate items referenced are derived from terephthalic acid and mono ethylene glycol, wherein the sum of terephthalic acid and mono ethylene glycol reacted constitutes at least 90 percent of the mass of monomer reacted to form the polymer, and must exhibit a melting peak temperature between 225°C and 255°C, as identified during the second thermal scan in procedure 10.1 in ASTM D3418, when heating the sample at a rate of 10°C/minute."
context_section_description: The empty PET packaging is discarded by the consumer, after use and becomes PET waste.  In the recycling industry, this is referred to as "post-consumer PET."  Many local governments and waste collection agencies have started to collect post-consumer PET separately from other household waste. Besides that there is container deposit legislation in some countries which also applies to PET bottles.
  It is debatable whether exporting circulating resources that damages the domestic recycling industry is acceptable or not. In Japan, overseas market pressure led to a significant cost reduction in the domestic market. The cost of the plastics other than PET bottles remained high.
  In the United States, there are two primary methods for recovery of PET bottles and containers. The first is curbside recycling to which most consumers have access. The waste hauler brings the recycled material to a material recovery facilities (MRFs) where it is further separated. The PET is then baled and sent on to a PET reclaimer. The PET reclaimer processes the bale, grinding the PET into flakes. Some do additional processing to make ready for food grade packaging. A link to the video of the process may be found here - PET Recovery Video.
caption: Reverse vending machine for empty beverage cans and PET bottles in an Aldi supermarket in Germany.
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