How many communities collect plastic for recycling?
Following an extensive nationwide survey in 1997, the American Plastics Council (APC) estimated that roughly one-half of all U.S. communities — nearly 19,400 — are collecting plastics for recycling, primarily PET and HDPE. Roughly 7,400 communities collect plastics at the curb, and approximately 12,000 communities collect plastics through drop-off centers. In addition, thousands of grocery stores in the United States accept plastic bags for recycling into new trash can liners and other products. The chart below shows how new community collection programs have increased in past years.
