US PET recycling still below 30%

Whoever wins next week’s US Presidential election must surely question why the country’s PET recycling rate has failed to reach even 30% yet again. From 29.1% in 2010, it could only manage 29.3% in 2011.

This is not a criticism of beverage manufacturers, who are investing in a wide range of schemes. It is a criticism of government at all levels, from municipal to federal. Success requires a partnership between the authorities and industry to follow best practice.

Many countries achieve 50% PET recycling, some more than 80%. Surely the United States can too ?