Nonmetallics

A recent survey conducted by the Plastic Bag Association found that consumers are catching on to the do’s and don’t’s of plastic bag recycling. PBA’s survey of its nationwide, 200-member Consumer Advisory Board indicated that:

*70 percent of the respondents recycle their plastic bags regularly,

*50 percent or more are aware that self-serve produce bags, dry-cleaning bags and newspaper-delivery bags can be recycled with plastic grocery bags,

*92 percent recognize snack food packages as incompatible with the plastic bag recycling process.

The survey was designed to measure consumers’ knowledge of clean stream recycling practices that minimize contamination in plastic bag recycling programs. Although he applauds the growth in consumer understanding, Ron Schmeider, president of PBA, says more education is needed to reduce plastic bag recycling contamination, which stems in part from such misperceptions as:

*Nearly half the survey respondents believe that paper shopping receipts don’t contaminate the plastic bag recycling process,

*52 percent believe they can recycle plastic food wrap with their plastic bags, and

*33 percent think that contamination is minimized by recycling all types of plastic bags together.

Respondents were selected from a database of callers to the Plastic Bag Information Clearinghouse’s toll-free hotline, which provides information to consumers about plastic bags and the environment. The 200 respondents will complete up to four surveys as part of their participation in PBA’s Consumer Advisory Board.

PACKING GROUP OPENS INFO-LINE

The Corrugated Packaging Council has launched a 24-hour, toll-free information hotline, the number for which is (800)-879-9777, the Council reports.

The info-line is aimed at providing information to consumers who wish to recycle corrugated boxes, recycling coordinators who may want to add corrugated to their existing recycling programs, retailers wanting to start or improve corrugated recycling operations, and packaging designers seeking new ideas for recycling various types of packaging.

Operators will provide facts about corrugated recycling and performance, and will be able to identify end-markets and recycling facilities accepting corrugated material nationwide.

Consumer brochures, fact sheets and personal follow ups are all part of the custom response mechanisms offered through the info-line.

The info-line number and "Corrugated Recycles" logo will be printed on boxes and other corrugated products, at the discretion of box manufacturers and their customers, to promote the info line.

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