Recycling group sees supply crisis.

North America's plastics recycling infrastructure is in danger of collapse due to a critical shortage of bottles and containers being collected and to growing demand for recyclate from China. Recycling companies are being squeezed, and many are in danger of going out of business. The result could be a significant loss of U.S. recycling capacity.

This is the outlook expressed by the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APPR), Arlington, Va., which represents more than 90% of plastics bottle recycling capacity in North America. Last month, the group said it was launching a campaign to generate awareness of the problem and promote actions to reverse its course.

APPR reports that conventional programs like locally funded curbside collection and deposit laws do not supply enough recyclate to meet demand. China, moreover, is buying more than 35% of U.S. PET bottles collected for recycling for its own use. Tightening demand is driving PET recyclate prices up. APPR states that the collection of recyclable PET and HDPE containers would need to double to 2.5 billion to 3 billion lb/yr in the next 24 months to meet demand. APPR recommends that the U.S. and state governments examine collection programs in Canada, Australia, and Europe that have proven successful and adapt them as a way out of the situation. Tel: [phone] * www.plasticsrecycling.org