Life After the Blue Bin: Laura Stewart Discusses the Future of PET Recycling on Sustainably Speaking

What really happens after you place a plastic bottle in the recycling bin?

That’s the question Laura Stewart, Executive Director of NAPCOR, explores in the latest episode of Sustainably Speaking, “Life After the Blue Bin.”

In conversation with host Mia Quinn, Laura takes listeners beyond the curb to examine the systems, technologies, and people that make PET recycling possible. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic, universally identified by the #1 inside the triangle, is the material used for most bottled water and many beverage containers.

The episode offers an inside look at how recycling infrastructure is evolving and why continued investment in innovation is helping create a stronger, more circular future.

One of the key themes of the discussion is modernization. Laura explains how advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and near-infrared sorting systems, are transforming Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), helping recyclers identify and recover valuable materials more efficiently than ever before.

The conversation also highlights the economic impact of PET recycling. Today, the PET industry supports nearly 17,000 jobs across the United States, demonstrating that recycling is not only an environmental solution but also an important contributor to American manufacturing and economic growth.

Laura also tackles one of the most persistent misconceptions about recycling: the belief that recycling “isn’t real.” Through real-world examples and industry insights, she explains how PET recycling works today, where progress is being made, and why collaboration across the value chain remains essential to increasing recycling rates and expanding access to recycling programs.

Whether you’re involved in packaging, sustainability, recycling, or simply curious about what happens after the blue bin, this episode offers valuable perspective on the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of recycling.

Listen to the full episode of Sustainably Speaking: Life After the Blue Bin here: https://plasticmakers.org/podcast/sustainably-speaking-laura-stewart-bottle-recycling/