Головоломка колекціонування: виклики та можливості на ринку rPET

This year has brought relative stability to the U.S. recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) market. However, the pressing need for increased collection of post-consumer material remains, and it is expected to continue into 2025 and beyond. While the market for rPET in 2024 has been characterized as stable, ongoing issues with supply constraints highlight the importance of enhancing collection systems.

A Steady Market Amid Shifting Conditions

The volatility that characterized 2022 and 2023, marked by fluctuating bale prices as recyclers adjusted to post-COVID-19 dynamics, has been largely absent in 2024. PET bottle bale prices have seen steady increases across most regions, with only a minor dip in early September. This relatively stable environment has been aided by growing commitments from brand owners to incorporate more post-consumer resin (PCR) into their packaging—a trend that could continue into early 2025.

Despite this stability, supply remains tight. Inflationary pressures have led to reduced consumption of PET-based products, such as beverage bottles, during the summer months, constraining the available feedstock for recycling. As a result, collection rates have fallen slightly year over year.

Internationally, the U.S. became a net importer of plastic scrap in 2023, including PET bottles. This trend has continued in 2024, with recyclers importing increasing volumes of material, particularly from Asian countries such as Thailand and Indonesia.

Key Challenges: Boosting Domestic Collection

Industry participants emphasize that boosting rPET availability requires stronger domestic collection efforts. While investments are being made, collection of PET packaging has continued to decline slightly. The Association of Plastic Recyclers, Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), and the U.S. Plastics Pact reported that 5 billion pounds of post-consumer plastics were recovered in 2022—a 1.4% decrease from 2021. Despite this decline, U.S. reclaimers processed 21.4 million more pounds of domestically sourced post-consumer plastics compared to the previous year, totaling 4.3 billion pounds.

However, PET bottle collection rates remain a concern, with only 27.8% of plastic bottles being recycled in 2022, down from 29.3% in 2021. NAPCOR Program Director Alisdair Carmichael notes that states with bottle deposit return systems achieve significantly higher collection rates—between 60% to over 80% compared to the national average of less than 30%. Expanding such systems is vital for meeting recycled-content goals and increasing PET collection.

Industry Initiatives: Turning the Tide

Despite the challenges, initiatives are underway to reverse declining collection trends. The Recycling Partnership (TRP) has issued over $70 million in grants across 450 recycling facilities to improve access, education, and infrastructure. TRP’s Переробка ПЕТ Coalition, launched in 2022, has deployed $5 million in grants, leading to the capture of 29 million pounds of new rPET. The coalition aims to capture an additional 250 million pounds of PET annually by 2027.

Technological Advances and Market Stability

The future of non-bottle PET collection also looks promising. New facilities, such as Rumpke Waste & Recycling’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Columbus, Ohio, are incorporating advanced sorting technologies to enhance PET recovery. Opened in mid-2024, this facility uses artificial intelligence and optical sorters to efficiently process up to 250,000 tons of material per year, including non-bottle PET items like clamshell containers and clear fruit cartons.

Overall, market stability has been the hallmark of 2024. PET bale pricing saw incremental gains throughout the year, and while there were regional variations, no major market disruptions occurred as seen in previous years. According to NAPCOR, East Coast bale prices peaked at 21 to 23 cents per pound, with a minor decrease in September. Meanwhile, West Coast bale prices have faced upward pressure from competition with imports, capping potential price growth.

Looking Ahead: New Dynamics in the rPET Market

One notable development is Republic Services’ new Polymer Center in Las Vegas, which began operating in late 2023. The facility processes a wide range of plastic materials and produces rPET flake, contributing to a growing network of similar centers nationwide. The Polymer Center’s capacity to produce 100 million pounds of recycled plastics annually could significantly impact the market by reducing the availability of materials for other recyclers, potentially driving higher pricing due to reduced supply.

Ultimately, enhancing collection rates and ensuring a steady supply of post-consumer PET will be essential to sustaining the growth of the rPET market. With investments in technology, infrastructure, and initiatives such as bottle deposit systems, the industry is taking meaningful steps to address these challenges and move toward a more circular economy.