2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada

Transcription

1 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada February 2014 Prepared by Moore Recycling Associates for the Canadian Plastics Industry Association

2 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 1 Introduction This is the fourth year that Moore Recycling Associates has conducted a survey to determine the amount of postconsumer plastic recovered in Canada for recycling. This report documents how much Canadian postconsumer plastic was collected and reclaimed by U.S or Canadian reclaimers and how much was sold to overseas markets. This study is sponsored by the Canadian Plastic Industry Association (CPIA) and is made possible by the businesses that cooperated by providing data. Executive Summary In 2012, at least 285 million kilograms of postconsumer (including post-commercial) 1 plastic material was collected for recycling in Canada. This represents a 10% increase in recycling over 2011, due in large part to increased purchasing by domestic reclaimers. The non-bottle rigid plastic category saw the greatest growth of 14 million kilograms, a 29% increase. Plastic bottles continue to make up the majority of the recycled plastic. Postconsumer Plastic Recycled by Major Category (kgs) Foam 983,000 Film 43,744,000 Bottles 174,689,000 Non-Bottle Rigid 65,544,000 1 Throughout this report the term postconsumer refers to plastics that have been used for their intended purpose by consumers and by businesses. Commercial materials are often recovered outside of curbside or drop-off collection programs and include items such as totes, pallets, crates, and other commercial packaging. (This report does not cover the recycling of post-industrial materials, which the U.S. EPA defines as materials, such as scrap and trimmings, that are generated in manufacturing and converting processes.)

3 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 2 Postconsumer Plastic Recycled Year-over-Year (kgs)!'#$%$$$%$$$!!!'$$%$$$%$$$!!!&#$%$$$%$$$!! 9+:3! 9;<3!!&$$%$$$%$$$!! =+)">+?<4!@;A;B! CCDE1F40!>+?<45! G2C-!>+?<45!!#$%$$$%$$$!! C-H!>+?<45!!"!!!! ()*)+,)! -./+01! ! ()*)+,)! -./+01! ! ()*)+,)! -./+01! ! ()*)+,)! -./+01! ! '$$8! '$&$! '$&&! '$&'! To accurately estimate the amount of postconsumer plastic recovered for recycling in 2012, Moore Recycling surveyed both domestic and export markets. The information for this report is based on recovery data from 28 reclaimers (18 Canadian and 10 U.S.) and 17 exporters. Moore Recycling received PET reclamation data from the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR). Data gathered in the survey is cross-checked with data available from Canadian provinces. This is a voluntary survey, therefore this report represents the minimum known to be recovered for recycling. Increased collection as well as continued progress in getting companies to participate in the survey contributed to the growth in postconsumer plastic reported. Overall, 83% of the material reported was reclaimed in Canada or the U.S. and 14% was exported overseas. The destination is unknown for the remaining portion. This study, which documents 4 years of recycling data, indicates that material collected for recycling in Canada mostly remains in North America rather than moving to overseas markets.

4 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 3 Summary of Canadian Postconsumer Plastic Recycling Change in North American End Markets Collection Collection Capacity 2 Utilization 3 (millions of (millions of of kgs) (millions of kgs) Capacity kgs) PET Bottles HDPE Bottles NA NA % fiber, food & beverage bottles, film & sheet, strapping, and non-food bottles bottles, pipe, film & sheet, automotive applications, lawn & garden products, lumber & decking PP/Other Bottles NA NA For PP: automotive applications, crates & buckets, caps & closures, lawn & garden products Non-Bottle Rigid Plastics Film Foam % % NA NA automotive applications, crates & buckets, lawn & garden products, pipe, film & sheet, fence posts, consumer and household products film & sheet, pipe, automotive applications, lawn & garden products, pallets, lumber & decking, crates & buckets protective packaging, building products, picture frames PET bottles are the highest volume plastic collected for recycling, followed by HDPE bottles. Given the consistency in year-over-year participation by bottle reclaimers, the increase in the total amount of bottles reported for recycling is clearly due to an increase in collection, rather than improvements in survey participation. The Non-Bottle Rigid increase is primarily due to an increase in Mixed Rigid Bales reported by domestic reclaimers. Six North American reclaimers reported expansions to begin processing or to process more non-bottle rigid material. Non-Bottle Rigid recycling represented in this report is likely conservative, particularly the volume reported as segregated resin non-bottle material coming out of the commercial sector. Film recycling increased by 18% over This increase is due both to an increase in collection and better company participation in the survey. Growth in capacity for clean, clear singleresin film led the slight growth in capacity in 2012 over Capacity for processing bottles often overlaps with capacity to process plastic non-bottle rigid plastic and/or film. Thus, adding the bottle, non-bottle rigid and film capacities from this report together could result in double counting some capacity. 3 Utilization is determined using estimated capacity and reported purchases by Canadian reclaimers.

5 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 4 The majority of the foam reported was expanded polystyrene (EPS), which was predominantly from protective packaging for durable products and some food packaging, e.g., meat trays, clamshells and coffee cups. Postconsumer Plastic Recycled By Resin (kgs) HDPE 96,951,000 LDPE 33,753,000 PVC 2,052,000 PET 109,114,000 PP 27,716,000 Other 13,646,000 PS 1,729,000 PET and HDPE make up the majority of postconsumer plastic recycled in Canada. Almost all of the PET is from bottles (95%). HDPE is 68% bottles, 23% non-bottle rigid and 9% film. The third largest resin is LDPE, made up primarily of film (98%), followed closely by PP, which is made up of 84% non-bottle rigid and 16% bottle material. According to feedback provided by North American reclaimers, supplies are tight for bottles and for clean, clear film, while the supply of mixed rigid bales is increasing. Reclaimers also noted the issue of bale contamination, particularly in bottle bales. Export buyers reported challenges due to stronger domestic demand, decreased demand from China, and the growing difficulty of moving lower-quality material to China. Demand and pricing were generally strong throughout the year. The strong interest in and support of sustainability goals in Canada is a key reason why Canadian suppliers have domestic market options for Curbside Film and Mixed Rigid Bales and are not completely dependent upon the export market for the lower value postconsumer plastic grades.

6 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 5 Methodology Moore Recycling Associates conducts the Canadian survey simultaneously with the annual U.S. Postconsumer Plastic Recycling Survey. The survey gathered data on all Canadian-sourced postconsumer plastic except PET bottles purchased for reclamation in Canada or the U.S.; data for those is provided by the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR). To ensure the most accurate information: Moore Recycling s markets database is continually updated to include exporters and reclaimers of plastic scrap in the U.S. and Canada; An online survey is submitted by and staff follow up appropriately ( and/or phone) to collect the data; and The data is vetted through follow-up calls, speaking to other industry contacts and reviewing other sources of recycling industry information, including available provincial data. Markets Database Moore Recycling Associates continually updates an in-house database of plastic exporters, processors, reclaimers and key brokers, through work with the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the Association of Postconsumer Plastics Recyclers (APR), the Plastic Recycling Corporation of California (PRCC), the National Association of PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), and the Canadian Plastic Industry Association (CPIA). Moore manages the PlasticsMarkets.org and PlasticFilmRecycling.org web sites, through which we regularly receive requests from new contacts for material and markets. Contacts are also identified through published market databases and conversations with suppliers, such as materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and key reclaimers. Data Collection and Analysis Moore Recycling uses a web-based, custom-designed survey system to gather data. Although the methodology has not changed since the first report, every year Moore Recycling explores ways to improve the quality and timeliness of the survey. For example, in 2011, we asked more specifically about products recycled as segregated resins/post-commercial items (e.g. PET thermoforms, HDPE injection drums, crates, pallets, PP battery casings) in order to offer clearer direction to the respondents. An with a unique link and message is sent to each contact. After an adequate amount of response time has passed, Moore Recycling staff send follow-up s and make telephone calls to retrieve data. This follow-up process can take weeks or months, depending on responses. To encourage participation, free advertising on PlasticsMarkets.org is offered to those who respond promptly. All appropriate data is entered into the online survey tool directly by the company being surveyed or by Moore Recycling staff when the survey is completed over the phone, by or fax. As it is received, Moore Recycling staff review the data for accuracy and place follow-up calls,

7 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 6 as needed. After completion of the data collection step, Moore Recycling compiles the data and categorizes it based on the detail reported. The final data totals are reviewed, analyzed, and then reported with as much detail as possible without compromising confidentiality. Describing as clearly as possible how the data is collected, and what is and is not included in the survey, provides readers of this report with the transparency needed to cross-reference our results with other industry data. This is a voluntary survey and the data reported is based on responses received. Without 100% participation, the totals presented represent the minimum amount of plastic recovered for recycling and sold into the marketplace. Only data provided by Canadian and U.S. reclaimers and exporters selling directly overseas is included in the totals reported, unless it is determined that data is missing in areas where substantive information from other reliable resources is available. Data provided by brokers and MRFs is used as reference to better understand the flow of material. The 2012 survey captured most of the significant handlers of plastic material in Canada, particularly postconsumer material recovered from the public. Post-commercial material can be difficult to track since it is often purchased by companies also handling post-industrial scrap. In Canada, the two are often generally combined together in an Industrial, Commercial and Institutional (I,C,I) category, and companies have a hard time breaking out the volume from each source. A survey of industrial scrap users would help to solve this tracking issue. Except for the largest ones, players in the export market come and go, and they frequently change the materials they are purchasing, making the export market a moving target. Gathering export recycling data in Canada is even more difficult than in the U.S. While the prevailing Canadian opposition to exporting likely lowers the percent of material exported in comparison to the U.S. industry, it is possible some export data was not captured. Moore Recycling cross-checked the 2012 data with available provincial collection estimates and also referenced Statistics Canada s estimated national totals. If there were large gaps between the survey responses and other industry data, we conducted additional research to ensure the results represent a reasonable accounting of postconsumer plastic collected in Canada for recycling. For example, as was the case in previous years, the 2012 survey responses from exporters and reclaimers reflected a much lower total for curbside film than what the provinces reported as recovered. After diligent outreach to industry contacts, we added the curbside film data from provincial collection estimates to reflect the minimum amount of postconsumer collected for recycling in Survey Categories The survey requested data for PET bottle exports, and for reclamation and export of: HDPE bottles (natural, colored, mixed) PP & other bottles Commingled bottles Mixed rigid plastic bale categories (detailed below)

8 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 7 Other resin-segregated non-bottle rigid plastic (which includes post-commercial plastic) listed a number of items that have been provided in the past (e.g., PET thermoforms, HDPE injection drums-buckets-crates PP hangers, PVC flooring, PC CDs) Film (detailed below) Foam - EPS (Expanded Polystyrene), EPP (Expanded Polypropylene), EPE (Expanded Polyethylene), Flexible Polyurethane, Rigid Polyurethane, Other Foam Detailed mixed rigid plastic bale categories: All Rigid Plastic - All bottles, AND all household non-bottle containers (includes thermoform packaging, cups, trays, clamshells, food tubs), AND all bulky rigid plastic (includes carts, crates, buckets, baskets, toys, lawn furniture) Pre-picked Rigid Plastic - All household non-bottle containers (includes thermoform packaging, cups, trays, clamshells, food tubs), AND all bulky rigid plastic (includes carts, crates, buckets, baskets, toys, lawn furniture). Very few bottles Bottles & Containers - All bottles, AND all household non-bottle containers (includes thermoform packaging, cups, trays, clamshells, food tubs). Very few bulky items Non-bottle Containers - All household non-bottle containers (includes thermoform packaging, cups, trays, clamshells, food tubs), with very few bottles and no bulky items Bulky Rigid Plastic - All bulky rigid plastic (includes carts, crates, buckets, baskets, toys, lawn furniture). No bottles or containers Tubs & Lids - PP, PE non-bottle household containers, including buckets Olefin Bale - PP, PE bulky rigid plastic, may include PP, PE bottle and/or non-bottle household containers HDPE Colored Bottles with PP/PE containers PP Bale - PP bottles, containers and bulky rigid plastic Mixed Clamshell Bale We also ask for data under these categories: Other Mixed Rigid Plastic - a catchall category defined on a case-by-case basis Mixed Post-Commercial Plastic - a catchall category defined on a case-by-case basis Mixed Electronic Scrap - primarily HIPS, ABS, PC With the exception of Tubs and Lids bales, for which there is Canadian composition data, Moore Recycling applied U.S. resin breakouts to the mixed-resin rigid plastic bales. Canada is

9 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 8 comparable enough to the U.S. to allow confidence in applying the allocation of the other mixed bales to the data. The breakout for Commingled Bottle bales is based on sales data for bottles by resin. The breakouts for all the other mixed bales listed above are based on the 2011 National Mixed Rigid Plastic Bale Composition Study performed by Moore Recycling Associates for the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers. Detailed Film categories: Commercial Clear Film - Clear, clean PE (polyethylene) film, including stretch wrap and poly bags Commercial Mixed Color Film - Mixed color PE film, including stretch wrap; no postconsumer bags Mixed Film - Mixed color, clean PE film, including stretch wrap and retail-collected postconsumer bags, sacks, and wraps Curbside Film - Mixed PE film generated at MRFs Clean Ag film - Dry and from uses that do not touch the ground; up to 10% contamination Dirty Ag film - From the ground; up to 50% contamination Other film - A catchall for film that does not fit in any of the categories above; mostly non-pe films such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polypropylene (PP).

10 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 9 Findings In 2012, a minimum of 285 million kilograms of postconsumer plastic was collected for recycling in Canada. As expected, most was plastic bottles and the remainder was non-bottle rigid plastic, film and bags and a small amount of foam. Postconsumer Plastic Recycled in 2012 By Category PET Bottles 36.3% Foam 0.3% Film 15.4% HDPE Bottles 23.3% Non-Bottle Rigid 23.0% PP/Other Bottles 1.7% Postconsumer Plastic Recycling By Major Category Year-over-Year (kgs) Year Bottles Non-Bottle Rigid Film Foam Total ,689,000 64,544,000 43,744, , ,961, ,341, ,931,000 37,102, , ,127, ,439,000 29,912,000 36,830,000 NA 217,182, ,825,000 28,132,000 27,147,000 NA 188,104,000 4 The increases year-over-year represent a combination of increases in recovery of material and improved participation in the survey. 5 4 The 2011 total for PET bottles has been reduced by 10.5 million kilograms, due to an error in the data provided to Moore Recycling. The adjustment is reflected in the Bottles total and the overall total, both reduced by 10.5 million kilograms from the figures in the 2011 report. 5 In 2009 and 2010, foam plastic was included in PS reported as Non-Bottle Rigid. Since 2011, foam data has been collected separately in its own section.

11 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 10 The increase in the Bottle category is attributable to an increase in the collection of plastic bottles. The majority of the increase in non-bottle rigid plastic was due to the increase in mixed rigid bales reported by the same set of domestic reclaimers as in Non-bottle rigid recycling represented in this report is likely conservative, particularly the volume reported as resin-segregated non-bottle material generated by the commercial sector. This, as previously notes, is due to the deficiency in tracking post-commercial material that is combined with industrial scrap. For film, the same set of reclaimers reported as in 2011, with a bit of a shift in export responses. The figure for foam recycling is also likely conservative, given that a number of domestic companies did not participate in this year s survey. Postconsumer Plastic Recycled Year-over-Year (kgs) Year Exported Purchased for processing in Canada or the United States Destination Unknown Total ,106, ,437,000 6,418, ,961, ,862, ,558,000 6,707, ,127, ,728, ,125,000 5,329, ,182, ,168, ,174,000 8,762, ,104,000 Overall, 83% of the material reported was reclaimed in Canada or the U.S. and 14% was exported overseas. The destination is unknown for the remaining fraction. U.S. companies purchased 44 million kilograms (15%) of postconsumer plastic from Canada for processing in the U.S. The material purchased by U.S. reclaimers combined with the plastic exported overseas resulted in 85 million kilograms (30%) of postconsumer plastic leaving the country, a decrease of almost 1% from More than 194 million kilograms of Canadiansourced recycled plastic (68% of collection), and an additional 70 million kilograms of U.S.-sourced plastic, was reclaimed in Canada. Export of scrap plastic is driven more by competitive export prices than by lack of markets in Canada. Bottles Bottles are collected in Canada through municipal curbside programs, as well as depots and retail drop off for the beverage deposit systems mandated in most provinces. Each province accepts different types of beverage containers as part of its program and each has a unique collection system. Moore Recycling estimates that million kilograms of postconsumer bottles were collected in Canada. This represents an increase of 3% over The increase was due to 6 The 2011 total for PET bottles has been reduced by 10.5 million kilograms, due to an error in the data provided to Moore Recycling. The adjustment is reflected in the Bottles total and the overall total, both reduced by 10.5 million kilograms from the figures in the 2011 report.

12 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 11 an increased volume reported by domestic reclaimers, which was slightly offset by a decrease in the amount exported. Domestic reclaimers reported a 2% (1.4 million kilograms) drop in HDPE bottle purchases from The export market s increase of 1.2 million kilograms resulted in only a slight decrease in the amount of HDPE bottles reported as recycled. Bottles By Resin PET Bottles 59.2% PP Bottles 2.6% Other Bottles 0.3% HDPE Natural Bottles 12.6% HDPE Colored Bottles 25.4% Bottles By Resin Year-over-Year (kgs) Year PET Bottles HDPE Natural Bottles HDPE Colored Bottles PP Bottles Other Bottles ,410,000 21,928,000 44,426,000 4,469, , ,141,000 20,268,000 46,260,000 4,454, , ,857,000 18,800,000 34,846,000 2,664, , ,133,000 13,263,000 27,693,000 3,476, ,000 PET Bottles NAPCOR estimates that in 2012, approximately 98.2 million kilograms of Canadiansourced postconsumer PET bottles were reclaimed in Canada and the U.S.; Moore Recycling estimates that 5.2 million kilograms 5% of the PET collected in Canada was exported overseas, primarily to China. Most of the PET exports were PET bales but some was exported as dirty flake or as part of mixed rigid bales. Compared to 2011, Canadian reclaimers purchased 6% more Canadian-sourced PET bottles in 2012.

13 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 12 In its Report on Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity in 2012, NAPCOR recounts that Canadian buyers purchased 24.5 million kilograms (54 million pounds) of PET from the U.S., about the same as they purchased in Capacity and End Uses There were four PET reclaimers operating in Canada in The PET bottle collection volume and domestic reclamation capacity continued to be close to equilibrium. NAPCOR reports that fiber remains the dominant North American end use for recycled PET bottles, but sheet & film has edged food & beverage bottles out of second place; they are followed by strapping, non-food bottles and other. The report also states that Canadian RPET end uses saw particular growth in fiber and packaging applications. 7 HDPE Bottles Responders reported a total of 66.4 million kilograms of postconsumer HDPE bottles recycled in 2012, a slight decrease compared to More Canadian-sourced Natural HDPE bottles were recycled domestically and overseas. Fewer Colored HDPE bottles were recycled domestically and there was only a small increase in material reported as exported overseas in The percentage of HDPE bottles exported was 4%, up from 2% in 2011, but not back up to the high of 8% exported in Colored HDPE made up 68% (46.7 million kilograms) of the HDPE bottles recovered for recycling. Of the 66.4 million kilograms of HDPE bottles recovered in Canada for recycling, 11.4 million kilograms were sold into the United States for reclamation, and 52.2 million kilograms were reclaimed in Canada. Canadian reclaimers brought 28 million kilograms of HDPE bottles from the U.S. to be processed in Canada. While the total volume moving across the border increased somewhat, purchasing practices were consistent with those in 2011: U.S. buyers sourced slightly more Canadian material and Canadian buyers sourced slightly less U.S. material. Capacity and End Uses Moore Recycling estimates 2012 Canadian HDPE bottle reclamation capacity to be 110 million kilograms, an increase of 4 million kilograms compared to what was reported in We calculate a utilization rate of 73% for 2012 (using estimated capacity and reported purchases). Of the Canadian reclaimers reporting on end uses, the primary end use for natural bottles is new bottles. U.S. reclaimers also report a fair amount going into lumber and decking applications. Pipe is the largest end use for Colored HDPE bottles in North America. Pipe and Film & Sheet are the largest end uses for Colored HDPE Bottles reclaimed in Canada. Colored HDPE bottles are also going into bottles, automotive applications, and, to a lesser degree, lawn and garden products and lumber and decking in Canada. 7 Report on Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity in 2012, NAPCOR & APR

14 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 13 PP and Other Bottles A minimum of 4.5 million kilograms of postconsumer PP bottles were reported as recycled in 2012, unchanged from About 1% of the PP reported was exported overseas and U.S. reclaimers reported buying some Canadian-sourced PP bottles in Based on U.S. bale sorts, there is likely a small amount of LDPE, PVC and Other (#7) bottles in the mixed rigid bales reported. LDPE, PVC and Other bottles make up only 457 thousand kilograms of the total material in this report. About 381 thousand kilograms comes from mixed bales reported by Canadian or U.S. reclaimers. These reclaimers handle the non-olefin (PVC or Other #7) bottles in one of a few ways: either disposing of them, selling them (if a domestic or export market is available) or, in some cases, the material goes to waste-to-energy facilities. The survey asked reclaimers reporting mixed rigid bales if they utilized all material, or if they disposed of, sold or otherwise provided any portion of the reported mixed rigid material to another reclaimer, exporter, broker or intermediate processor. No bottle material was reported as disposed or sold. Capacity and End Uses Due to limited data sources, information on PP reclamation capacity is not available. Recycled PP bottles are used to manufacture automotive applications, crates and buckets, caps and closures or items such as lawn and garden furniture.

15 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 14 Non-bottle Rigid Plastic In 2012, 65.5 million kilograms of non-bottle rigid plastic were reported as reclaimed or exported. This represents an increase of 29% over the volume reported for Of the non-bottle rigid material reported, 35.6 million kilograms was from mixed rigid bales, including electronic scrap, an increase of 15 million kilograms. This increase is primarily due to mixed rigid bales reported by domestic reclaimers. The remaining 29.9 million kilograms the same amount reported in 2011 was non-bottle material segregated by resin. In 2012, mixed rigid material made up 54% of the non-bottle rigid plastic reported, unlike 2011, when segregated resins made up the majority (59%) of the non-bottle rigid material. U.S. reclaimers did not purchase any Canadian-sourced mixed rigid bales; they did buy almost 12 million kilograms of resin-separated material. Consistent with 2011, approximately 26% of the total non-bottle rigid plastic reported as recovered for recycling was exported overseas in Seventy-two percent of the mixed rigid bales reported stayed in Canada, compared to only 56% of what was reported in Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic By Source Segregated By Resin 46% Other Mixed Rigid 10% Bulky Rigid 8% Tubs & Lids 8% All Rigid Plastic Pre-picked Rigid Plastic 11% 17% Other Mixed Rigid includes data provided as Other Mixed Rigid Plastic and any mixed rigid bale categories with less than 200 thousand kilograms reported.

16 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 15 Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic By Source Year-over-Year (kgs) All Rigid 6,962,000 3,859,000 2,203,000 4,996,000 Pre-picked Rigid 8 11,443,000 4,088,000 5,770,000 1,984,000 9 Tubs & Lids 5,335,000 5,003,000 4,961,000 7,857,000 Bottles & Containers - 309,000 46,000 46,000 Olefin (HDPE & PP) - 45, ,000 - PP Bale 98, ,000 NA NA Bulky Rigid 4,986, ,000 1,802,000 2,714,000 Colored HDPE Bottles with PE /PP Containers ,000 - Electronic Scrap - - 1,134,000 19,000 Other Rigid Plastic 6,747,000 6,890,000 89,000 - Mixed Post Commercial - 420,000 4,929, ,000 Plastic Segregated by Resin 29,973,000 29,969,000 8,116,000 10,175,000 Some material categories may not track as expected because respondents may report materials as a mixed category in one year and broken out as segregated resins in another year. For example, in one year a responder may report material under Electronic Scrap and in the next year report it broken out into HIPS and ABS in the segregated resin section. Tubs & Lids programs have been more prevalent in Canada than in the U.S., but as provinces work to collect more plastic, broader mixed resin rigid bale types, such as All Rigid and Pre-picked, are showing up consistently in the marketplace and in greater quantities. More Bulky Rigid bales were reported in 2012 than in previous years, particularly compared to It is possible some bulky rigid plastic is collected in other ways, such as municipal drop off, and may have been reported as resin-segregated material in Bulky rigid plastic (primarily HDPE and PP items such as laundry baskets, lawn furniture, buckets and pails) presents a significant recovery opportunity because of its large volume and high value, and is not accepted in most Canadian collection programs. According to the Residential Recycling Access for Consumer Plastic Packaging in Canada report by CM Consulting, only HDPE pails were accepted in a significant number of programs in 2011 (67% of the population had access to recycle HDPE pails). The most recent report, released in 2013, stated that 3% of the population had access to recycle all Bulky Rigid plastic. 8 Pre-picked Rigid bales are All Rigid bales that have the PET and HDPE bottles removed. 9 In 2009 this category was called household containers. 10 The 2010 report combined Post-Commercial material with Plastic Segregated By Resin and they are broken out in the above chart and graph.

17 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 16 Non-Bottle Rigid Plastic By Resin (kgs) LDPE 1% PS 1% Other 18% PET 9% PP HDPE 34% PVC 2% 35% PET HDPE PVC LDPE PP PS Other 5,703,000 22,089,000 1,342, ,000 23,248, ,000 11,836,000 Data from the report 2011 National Mixed Rigid Plastic Bale Composition Study performed by Moore Recycling Associates for APR were applied to mixed rigid bales to provide the resin breakdown above. With the exception of Tubs and Lids bales, for which there is Canadian composition data, the bales were U.S.-sourced. Consistent with previous years, PP and HDPE make up the majority (69%) of the nonbottle rigid plastic recovered in Canada. The category Other makes up 18% of the material reported for Other consists of electronic scrap (e.g. HIPS, ABS), other resins from mixed bales, and a substantial amount of other mixed rigid plastic material reported without the detail needed to break it down by resin. The survey asked reclaimers that handle mixed rigid bales about the 5 million kilograms of non-olefin plastic (PET, PS, PVC, Other) included in the non-bottle rigid fraction of the mixed rigid bales they reported. It asked if they utilized all material, or if they disposed of, sold or otherwise provided any portion of the reported mixed rigid material to another reclaimer, exporter, broker or intermediate processor. Most of the reclaimers reporting mixed rigid bales responded to this question and all that responded indicated that they utilized all material they purchased from U.S. and Canadian sources. PET thermoforms continue to represent an opportunity to increase non-bottle rigid recycling and augment raw material supply for PET reclaimers in North America. In the Report on Postconsumer PET Container Recycling Activity in 2012, NAPCOR reported only a modest increase in PET thermoforms purchased by U.S. and Canadian reclaimers over 2011 volumes, acknowledging that there are still hurdles to overcome, including design for recycling, best practice sorting, and the integration of non-bottle material into what have been primarily bottle-centric reclamation facilities. NAPCOR also states that some reclaimers are currently handling autosorted PET thermoforms mixed in with their PET bottle bales at specified percentages ranging from 2 to 15 percent.

18 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 17 Organizations in the U.S. and Canada, such as the Retail Council of Canada, NAPCOR, APR, and the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI), along with their respective member companies, are working together to boost recovery and reclamation of PET packaging. An example of this effort is NAPCOR's ongoing work to further the recycling compatibility of PET thermoform labels and adhesives and promote the testing guidelines originally developed in conjunction with the APR in Through a stakeholder group comprising brand owners, retailers, label manufacturers, converters, and ink suppliers, NAPCOR is facilitating trials of recycling-compatible combinations of PET thermoform labels, adhesives and inks, and will continue to promote their use in the Canadian and U.S. marketplaces. The PET thermoform design for recyclability guidelines are posted on the APR web site, as are the labels that conform to the recycling compatibility evaluation protocol. With PET bale quality under increasing pressure, PET reclaimers remain cautious about the inclusion of PET thermoforms. NAPCOR reports that the market is developing, albeit gradually, and that there is still work to do to facilitate greater reclaimer acceptance of this material without compromising quality and yield. Capacity and End Uses A conservative estimate for non-bottle rigid plastic reclamation capacity is 82 million kilograms per year. This capacity is based on either the capacity reported by reclaimers, or, if no capacity was reported, the amount of material the reclaimer handled. The estimated utilization of that capacity is 60% for Please note, this capacity does not include the substantial commercial/industrial scrap grinding and compounding capacity Recycled non-bottle rigid plastic is commonly used in automotive applications, crates, buckets, lawn & garden products, pipe, as well as film and sheet. Other uses include various consumer and household products, lumber and decking, and fence posts. Film and Bags In 2012, a minimum of 43.7 million kilograms of postconsumer film and bags were collected for recycling, showing an increase of 18% compared to We have had consistent participation from domestic reclaimers since Many of the same exporters responded, although one exporter reported only post-industrial material for 2012, 3 did not respond, and there was one new participant. Curbside film collection increased again this year based on provincial data. There continues to be a gap between the curbside film data from provinces and what is reported by reclaimers and exporters. In order to report an accurate recycling total, we included some of the collection data from provinces along with the survey responses. The destination (e.g., domestic, export) of material is reported where possible, but because we were unable to get responses from all exporters, the destination of a portion of curbside film is unknown.

19 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 18 Film By Source Dirty Ag Film 0.2% Clean Ag Film 9.7% Commercial Clear Film 35.8% Commercial Mixed Color Film 12.6% Mixed Film 7.1% Curbside Film 32.9% Other Film 1.7% Film By Source Year-over-Year (kgs) Year Commercial Commercial Curbside Film Mixed FIlm Clean Ag Dirty Ag Other Film Clear Film Mixed Film Film Color Film ,681,000 5,468,000 14,395,000 3,117,000 4,257,000 64, , ,820,000 3,273,000 13,211, ,000 5,357, , , ,537,000 7,103,000 12,371,000 NA 933,000 33,000 2,853, ,869,000 6,371,000 12,210,000 NA 1,477, ,000 38,000 Beginning in the 2011 survey Mixed FIlm was broken out into Commercial Mixed Color Film (no postconsumer bags) and Mixed Film (Includes postconsumer bags, sacks and wraps). The amount reported in 2010 and 2009 above for Commercial Mixed Color Film is the category that was previously reported under Mixed FIlm and may include some postconsumer bags. Commercial Clear Film is by far the most valuable film in the marketplace. This is clean PE film, including stretch wrap and poly bags, recovered by the commercial sector from transportation and other packaging. After Commercial Clear Film, the most valuable is Commercial Mixed Color Film, then Mixed Film, which includes retail or depot drop off collected postconsumer bags and film. While the bag and film material collected at retail drop offs from the public is much cleaner than film collected curbside and sent through MRFs, it can also have color and varying consistency in quality that can reduce its market value. Clean Ag Film is from agricultural uses where it does not touch the ground; it is dry, with up to 10% contamination. Curbside Film and Dirty Ag film (ag film that has touched the ground and has up to 50% contamination) are harder to recycle because they require a wash stage or end product that can handle the contamination. Fewer than 5 companies can process curbside film in the U.S. and Canada. Processors of postconsumer material, collected through curbside, expressed concerns about contamination from glass (and other abrasive

20 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 19 material) and non-polyethylene plastic. Nearly all reclaimers expressed concern about degradable film in the recycling stream. The data reported shows a minimum of 50% of recovered postconsumer film is being processed by Canadian or U.S. reclaimers. U.S. reclaimers purchased 4.7% (2 million kilograms) of the film plastic recovered in Canada, up slightly from Canadian reclaimers purchased 5 million kilograms of recovered film from the U.S. in 2012, compared to only 1.5 million kilograms in The export market has historically been a major buyer of film coming out of the U.S. and Canada. In 2012, a minimum of 36% of the recovered film was exported overseas. The main categories exported in 2012 were Commercial Clear and Mixed Color Film, Curbside Film and Mixed Film; very little material from the other categories was exported according to the survey responders. The destination of 14% of the film recovered in 2012 is unknown. As noted, this is curbside film known to have been recovered, based primarily on provincial data. Capacity and End Uses For 2012, Moore Recycling estimates the film and bag reclamation capacity in Canada at 51 million kilograms, with a 49% utilization of the capacity. The major end use for recycled film in Canada is new film & sheet, unlike the U.S.where lumber and decking is the primary end use. Additional end uses in Canada (and the U.S.) reported in 2011 are automotive applications, pipe, lawn and garden products and some injection-molded articles. Foam For the calendar year 2012, the survey asked for specific information on the recycling of foam plastics. The majority of the foam reported was expanded polystyrene (EPS), predominantly from protective packaging for durable products. As market demand grows for recycled EPS, it is important to track how much of the material is being collected. EPS is recycled into fire protection products, crown moldings and decorative frames for mirrors, pictures and wall hangings. The advent of densification equipment to compress foam has enabled efficient transport to markets in Canada, the U.S. and overseas. Sources of recycled EPS include commercial generators, depot operations (both municipal and private) and curbside collection programs. Nine hundred and twenty-six thousand kilograms of EPS were reported as recycled in 2012, the majority of which was processed domestically. The EPS total was up 179 thousand kilograms from A number of companies that did not respond to the survey may have data that would provide a better estimate of EPS being recycled. A very small amount of Rigid Polyurethane and Other foam (just under 60 thousand kilograms) was reported as exported overseas. Due to the limited number of reclaimers responding for domestic reclamation of EPS, no additional information is available.

21 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada 20 Conclusions Postconsumer plastic recycling reported for Canada was 285 million kilograms, an increase of 26 million kilograms from These numbers are conservative, but the data shows the vast majority of the material collected for recycling in Canada is staying in Canada for reclamation and remanufacture. There are opportunities to improve the quality of MRF bales and the quantity of what is collected in Canada notably bulky rigid plastic, commercial rigid plastics and commercial film but overall, the plastic recycling industry in Canada is growing. Strong support of sustainability goals in Canada has led to domestic markets for all plastic scrap types and a low dependence on the export market. Additional Information The Canadian Plastics Industry Association provides resources to communities, businesses and consumers to assist in increasing awareness and education of the recycling of plastic packaging and diversion from Canadian landfills. For information about plastics recycling, visit For information on markets for postconsumer plastic, visit and The 2012 Postconsumer Plastics Recycling in Canada report has been prepared to provide information to parties interested in the recycling of plastics in Canada. This report is not designed or intended to define or create legal rights or obligations. CPIA does not make any warranty or representation, either expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this report; nor does CPIA assume any liability of any kind whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance upon any information, conclusion, or options contained herein. The Canadian Plastics Industry Association sponsored this report. This work is protected by copyright. The Canadian Plastics Industry Association, which is the owner of the copyright, hereby grants a nonexclusive royalty-free license to reproduce and distribute this workbook, subject to the following limitations: (1) the work must be reproduced in its entirety, without alterations; and (2) copies of the work may not be sold.