Nonmetallics Department

Association Awards Plastics Recycler

The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR), Arlington, Va., has awarded Unilever its "Creative Use Award." Unilever Home and Personal Care-USA is a user of post-consumer plastic resin in its plastic product bottles and is donating 100% recycled lumber to 55 national parks. The donated lumber contains the equivalent of 12 million plastic detergent containers.

The award recognizes product manufacturers who use recycled feedstock in their products. "Unilever’s commitment is very impressive," says Robin Cotchan, APR director.

Gerber to Switch to Plastic Jars

Gerber Product Co., Fremont, Mich., is now selling three of its most popular products in #7 plastic rather than glass. The company claims consumers have said they would prefer the convenience of plastic containers versus glass.

As with other food packaging, such as ketchup bottles, Gerber’s move could spur other baby food manufacturers to also package their products in plastic.

Gerber says the containers are recyclable, although some in the industry have doubts about the recyclability of the plastic. Glass is often recycled at a higher rate than plastic. The #7 plastic is a resin that is not often collected in residential recycling programs. Typically, resins #1 and #2 are collected.

, a 23.5% recycling rate for #1 and #2 resin in 1997, compared to a 35% recycling rate for glass.

Foam Recycler Finds Success

FP International, Redwood City, Calif., has completed its 10th year of polystyrene recycling. The company has recycled 10 million pounds of polystyrene foam packaging during that time. "We opened our company’s first East Coast polystyrene recycling facility and recycled about a million pounds each year," says Ken Johnson, Newark plant manager.

The company makes loose fill packaging material.

The company also operates four other polystyrene recycling facilities in the United States.

Germany Rejects Bottle Deposit Plan

Germany’s states have rejected a planned deposit on drink cans and most bottles, delaying a change meant to encourage recycling. Had the vote been passed by the upper house of parliament, some deposits could have been as high as 44 cents.

Passage would have meant the expansion of an already nationwide recycling system that includes many glass containers, paper and plastic packaging. Under the proposal, Environment Minister Juergen Tritten wanted to add levies of about 22 cents on cans and all bottles, except wine bottles, beginning Jan. 1. Larger bottles would have had a 44 cent deposit.

Even if there are no new legislation changes, targets set down in Germany’s existing recycling laws could force a deposit on beer cans and plastic mineral bottles, if not for soft drink cans.