Study Predicts Rapid Growth in Plastics Recycling
The demand for recycled plastics will increase to 2.75 billion pounds by the year 2000 from 1.75 billion pounds in 1995, according to a new study by The Freedonia Group, an Ohio-based market research firm. The study also found that recycling is projected to increase 10 percent annually, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terepthalate (PET) will remain the dominant recycled resins due to their predominance in the bottle marketplace, as well as their ease of collection and separation.
According to the report, recycled polyester fiber and fiberfill production will gain momentum and make strong showings in home furnishings, apparel, carpet, and other textiles. Demand for recycled HDPE will grow because of extensive uses in bottle and film products, lumber, and various other markets.
Freedonia also predicts that as we approach the year 2000, packaging will remain the leading market for recycled plastics, and an advanced system for cleaning and recycling the used plastics, known as depolymerization, will play a role in future recycling growth.