PET Recycling Works. Policy Is the Missing Link.

At NAPCOR, we hear it often: recycling in the United States is broken. But when it comes to PET (polyethylene terephthalate, recognized by the #1 inside the triangle), the material used in beverage bottles and much of today’s food packaging, that claim misses the mark. PET recycling works every day in facilities across the country. As John Galt, Chairman of Husky Technologies, recently wrote in Plastics News, the real question is not whether PET can be recycled, but why US recycling rates remain well below what we know is possible. The answer is policy.

Split graphic promoting NAPCOR’s 2024 PET Recycling Report and new blog post. On the left, the report cover appears over a close-up image of a clear PET bottle embossed with the #1 recycling symbol, with hashtags #PickPET, #RecycleThe1, and #2024PETRecyclingReport. On the right, blue background text states that the 2024 US PET recycling rate was 30.2 percent but lags behind other nations, citing John Galt of Husky Technologies' op-ed. Three policy priorities are highlighted with icons: “Scale Proven Solutions” (EPR policies and minimum recycled content standards to increase collection), “Invest for Economic Return” (infrastructure and education investment to boost recycling, create US jobs, and grow the economy), and “Act Now” (urgent state and federal action to build a circular PET economy). A link to napcor.com/blog/pet-policy-is-the-missing-link and NAPCOR and Positively PET logos appear at the bottom.

The Untapped Potential of PET Recycling

PET is the most recycled plastic in the world and one of the most valuable materials in the recycling stream. Domestic reclaimers want more PET than the current US system supplies. In some states, recyclers are even importing PET feedstock to meet demand. That is not a sign of material failure. Rather, it is evidence of a system that is underperforming.

Per our new PET Recycling report, the US PET bottle recycling rate reached 30.2 percent in 2024, one of the nation’s strongest showings in decades. Yet globally, in countries with the right policy frameworks, collection rates routinely exceed 80 percent, or even 90 percent. The gap between what the US achieves and what is achievable is not theoretical. It is structural.

What Other Systems Get Right

The difference between high-performing recycling systems and stagnant ones is policy design. Countries and states that align incentives with material value consistently see better outcomes.

Well-designed extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs create stable funding for recycling infrastructure, reward recyclable packaging, and encourage consistent participation across communities. Deposit return systems significantly increase PET bottle collection by making recycling simple, convenient, and economically rational for consumers. Minimum recycled-content requirements help stabilize end markets and ensure that collected material is used domestically rather than wasted.

These approaches are not speculative. They are proven. Belgium, Spain, Germany, and the Nordic countries have all achieved dramatic gains in PET recycling through a combination of EPR and deposit systems. In its first year of introduction, Austria’s deposit return scheme expects to meet its 80% return-rate target by the end of 2025.

Why Patchwork Policy Falls Short

In contrast, the US recycling system remains fragmented. Rules vary by state, access varies by community, and funding for collection and processing is inconsistent. Even PET, the package designed to be fully recyclable, cannot be recycled if it ends up in the trash.

This policy patchwork approach leaves value on the table. Every PET bottle that is landfilled or littered represents lost economic opportunity, increased reliance on new (virgin) materials, and unnecessary pressure on local governments. It also undermines the investments brands and manufacturers are making to increase recycled content and build circular supply chains. In the case of EPR, national harmonization would send a strong market signal, providing the clarity and confidence needed for a robust recycling system. We are not alone in calling for national alignment, and continued engagement with Congress will be essential to translating momentum into action.

The Path Forward

The US has everything it needs to lead in PET recycling: modern manufacturing capacity, experienced recyclers, strong end markets, and a material designed to be remade. What it lacks is a coherent policy framework that aligns incentives, investment, and participation.

Recycling PET plastic is not a question of capability. It is a question of commitment.

If policymakers are serious about reducing waste, strengthening domestic supply chains, and building a circular economy, the solution is clear. Support policies that work. Scale systems that deliver results. And treat PET not as a problem to manage, but as a resource worth recovering.

We agree wholeheartedly with John Galt: the opportunity is already in our hands. Now it is time to unlock it. Read his full opinion-editorial here.

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