Advertisement

If you have an ACS member number, please enter it here so we can link this account to your membership. (optional)

ACS values your privacy. By submitting your information, you are gaining access to C&EN and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. We use the information you provide to make your reading experience better, and we will never sell your data to third party members.

ENJOY UNLIMITED ACCES TO C&EN

Environment

Plastic Bag Recycling Spiked In 2006

March 31, 2008 | A version of this story appeared in Volume 86, Issue 13

Credit: Trex

U.S. plastic bag and film recycling reached a record high of 812 million lb in 2006, a 24% increase over 2005, according to a new report commissioned by the American Chemistry Council. ACC attributes the sharp climb in recycling of grocery bags and other film products to increased concern about the environmental impact of plastic waste and increased demand for recycled plastic. Trex, a firm that manufactures deck-wood substitutes from plastic, sawdust, and wood scrap, is the largest bag recycler in the U.S., consuming 1.5 billion grocery bags per year. "We have recycled over 2.5 billion lb of plastic over the last 10 years," says Dave Heglas, Trex's director of material resources.

Article:

This article has been sent to the following recipient:

0 /1 FREE ARTICLES LEFT THIS MONTH Remaining
Chemistry matters. Join us to get the news you need.