Page 47 - Plastics News Issue June 2025
P. 47
FEATURE NEWS
Research, programs improve
film recycling access
of the study article.
“While these results are encouraging, it’s im-
portant to note that access is just one piece
of the puzzle,” Leardini wrote. “There is signifi-
cant work ahead to substantiate the system as
a whole, but this research establishes a clearer
picture of where access exists today.”
Future SPC projects include research into how
to inform consumers about programs near them,
as well as working with How2Recycle to improve
mericans have access to a store drop- recycling labels to work better with programs.
off site for film plastics, according to a
Anew study by the Sustainable Packaging SPC’s study comes after some turbulence in the
Coalition. U.S. drop-off film recycling landscape. In 2023,
there were several major media investigations
The findings come as The Recycling Partnership into where bags dropped off in retail collec-
launches an initiative to expand film plastic recy- tion sites were ultimately going. ABC News and
cling in California and the city of West Vancou- Bloomberg both dropped off plastic with GPS
ver, British Columbia, prepares to start curbside trackers inside and found that at least some of
flexible plastic collection. their materials ended up in a landfill.
The study released last week by SPC found Then, in late 2023, a longtime drop-off guide was
about 70% of U.S. residents live within a 3-mile taken offline after its administrator, Stina Inc., lost
drive of a retail store drop-off for film plastics. industry funding to maintain the resource. That
The study, which was conducted by consulting guide was frequently cited by How2Recycle and
firm Resource Recycling Systems, also found other industry initiatives, and its absence left a
over 90% of residents live within 10 miles of a gap in consumer-facing information about film
drop-off and over 95% live within 20 miles. recycling availability. Since then, several groups
have launched guides aiming to bring similar in-
SPC previously released a study examining formation to the public, including major recycled
store drop-off access within the state of Califor- film end user Trex and, more recently, the Plas-
nia with similar results. tics Industry Association.
The findings of the study will help SPC promote California flexible packaging initiative
store drop-off programs, wrote Paula Leardini,
manager of Circular Recycling at SPC and author The Recycling Partnership’s Film and Flexibles
June 2025 PLASTICS NEWS 47
