PETRA is the industry association for North America's producers of PET - polyethylene terephthalate - the clear and lightweight plastic used around the world to package foods, beverages, personal care products and other consumer items.
PETRA (the PET Resin Association) is dedicated to:
PET is the most recycled plastic in America. Bottles, jars and containers made of PET can be identified by the #1 and chasing arrows code stamped on the bottom.
Can PET bottles and containers be recycled?
Absolutely. PET is 100% recyclable and highly sustainable. It can be recovered and recycled again and again –– back into containers for foods, beverages and personal care products – or into carpet and clothing fibers, automotive parts, construction materials, industrial strapping or other packaging materials. Approximately 1.5 billion pounds of used PET bottles and containers are collected in the U.S. each year for recycling. PET is the most recycled plastic in the U.S.
Because PET is resistant to attack by micro-organisms and won't biologically degrade, PET bottles and containers that find their way to the landfill remain inert and pose no risk of leaching or contaminating groundwater. PET bottles and containers are thin walled and can be easily crushed flat, so they take up relatively little landfill space. According to the EPA, only 1% of U.S. municipal solid waste is attributed to PET containers. |