April 22, 2009
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Plastic bag manufacturers working with the American Chemistry Council have set a goal to increase the recycled content of plastic bags to 40 percent by 2015.
The Full Circle Recycling Initiative, developed by theProgressive Bag Affiliates of the American Chemistry Council, would require a $50 million investment from industry members to increase the collection of bags and update manufacturing processes.
The Initiative also aims to have 25 percent of that 40 percent content come from postconsumer recycled plastic. To achieve the two goals, plastic bag makers would need to use 470 million pounds of recycled plastic (300 million pounds of which is postconsumer) annually, the equivalent of 36 billion bags.
In 2007, the latest year there are figures available for plastic bag recycling, 830 million pounds of plastic bags and plastic wrap were recycled.
Progressive Bag Affiliates plans to work with grocery and retail stores to increase in-store plastic bag drop-off programs for customers to use. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) runs PlasticBagRecycling.org, which lists locations that have collection bins for plastic bags, plastic wrap from items like paper towels, newspaper bags, dry cleaning bags and other #2 and #4 plastic bags and wrapping. Plastic bags are overwhelmingly not accepted through curbside recycling programs or at drop-off centers.
While the ACC tries to increase recycling of bags, many companies like IKEA and Whole Foods have eliminated their use entirely, and various cities in the U.S. and other countries have set or proposed bans or fees for using plastic bags.
The Full Circle Recycling Initiative, developed by theProgressive Bag Affiliates of the American Chemistry Council, would require a $50 million investment from industry members to increase the collection of bags and update manufacturing processes.
The Initiative also aims to have 25 percent of that 40 percent content come from postconsumer recycled plastic. To achieve the two goals, plastic bag makers would need to use 470 million pounds of recycled plastic (300 million pounds of which is postconsumer) annually, the equivalent of 36 billion bags.
In 2007, the latest year there are figures available for plastic bag recycling, 830 million pounds of plastic bags and plastic wrap were recycled.
Progressive Bag Affiliates plans to work with grocery and retail stores to increase in-store plastic bag drop-off programs for customers to use. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) runs PlasticBagRecycling.org, which lists locations that have collection bins for plastic bags, plastic wrap from items like paper towels, newspaper bags, dry cleaning bags and other #2 and #4 plastic bags and wrapping. Plastic bags are overwhelmingly not accepted through curbside recycling programs or at drop-off centers.
While the ACC tries to increase recycling of bags, many companies like IKEA and Whole Foods have eliminated their use entirely, and various cities in the U.S. and other countries have set or proposed bans or fees for using plastic bags.
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