allplasticbottles.org All Bottles Statistics

"Predicted problems in switching to an 'all plastic bottles' program never occurred."

- Joe Kowalski,
Windham Solid Waste Management District, Vermont

"Our 'all plastic bottle' collection is part of an automated single stream curbside collection program that has created an easy-to-use voluntary system for Virginia Beach residents. While the resin numbering system was possibly useful when first implemented years ago, it may not be helpful now."

- Debra Devine,
City of Virginia Beach, Virginia

Communities want to make informed decisions before making any changes to their recycling programs. Before considering a switch to an "all plastic bottles" program it is important to examine the results and experiences from other communities, and make decisions based on careful analysis of expected outcomes. Several communities have shared "before" and "after" collection data as part of a research effort undertaken by the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council in 1999. These results were published in a Resource Recycle article entitled, "Breaking Bottlenecks in Plastic Bottle Recovery."

All plastic bottle programs have become popular with a growing number of U.S. communities over the past decade because the educational message of looking for the ‘neck’ of a bottle instead of the numerical bottle code is easier for consumers to understand and follow. According to surveys conducted by Resource Recycling Magazine for the American Chemistry Council’s Plastic Division, all plastic bottle programs have grown from approximately 1200 programs in 1999 to over 2000 programs in 2006.

Furthermore, recycling program coordinators can learn from examples of other "all bottles" communities by talking with their peers who have implemented programs within the last five years. Please visit Contact Your Peers section for more information.

A Word About Markets

Marketing of plastic bottles is driven by the economics of supply and demand and is subject to fluctuations in market availability and costs/revenues. End markets for all-bottle bales may be limited in number and not available in all regions of the country. Communities that collect all plastic bottles should consider marketing strategies based on transportation factors and program economics. Research has shown in most cases, however, that implementing an “all bottles” program will increase the number of PET (#1) and HDPE (#2) bottles collected by a community.

Since more than 95% of all plastic bottles are either PET or HDPE, the remaining 5% have varying success or difficulty attracting consistent markets. Although this is something to consider when implementing an “all bottles” program, it should not be the only factor that is considered when weighing the pros and cons of collecting all plastic bottles.

For a more detailed discussion of the merits and challenges of an "all bottles" program, please review ACC's Plastic Division's publication "Simplicity = Success."