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DRINK CONTAINERS/
USA
source: www.nsda.org/environment/
recyclingfacts.asp
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In 2003, 68.0 billion soft drinks were packaged in cans, 26.6 billion were packaged in PET bottles, and 0.7 billion were packaged in glass bottles…- beverage containers account for 4%of the US solid waste stream;
- the post-consumer recycling rate for soft drink containers was 44.3%: more than 42 billion soft drink containers were recycled in 2003;
- although beverage containers account for less than 20% of materials collected in most curbside programs, they generate up to 73% of total scrap revenue. Despite that, there has been a decrease from 60.6% in 1994 to 44.3% in 2003;
- recycling impact: a combination of mandatory deposits and existing recycling programs raises the recycling rate by less than 1%. In three of the larger deposit states - California, Massachusetts and New York - the return rates have steadily decreased since 1995. Comprehensive recycling targets at least one-third of the waste stream in most communities.
1994-2003 Carbonated Soft Drink Post-Consumer Recycling Rate* (%)| Container Type | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | | Aluminum Cans1 | 62.8 | 62.5 | 62.1 | 55.4 | 53.4 | 50.0 | | Glass Bottles2 | 32.8 | 32.8 | 32.8 | 32.8 | 32.8 | 25.0 | | PET Bottles3 | 35.6 | 35.7 | 35.0 | 35.1 | 31.3 | 30.2 | | TOTAL | 55.6 | 55.2 | 54.6 | 49.5 | 47.0 | 44.3 |
* Prepared by NSDA Environmental Affairs Department - Sources: (1) aluminum data: Can Manufacturers Institute, Aluminum Association, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Steel Recycling Institute; (2) glass data: Glass Packaging Institute, U.S. Department of Commerce, Current Industrial Reports; (3) PET data: American Plastics Council and Container Consulting, Inc.
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