How many plastics recyclers are there?
The definition of recycler can mean a company that collects materials, a company that sorts collected material, a company that mechanically cleans sorted collected materials, a company that processes mixed collected materials, and a company that upgrades cleaned sorted materials. The Plastic Divisions 2007 markets update identified 1,334 businesses that handle and/or reclaim (sort, process and/or produce) post-consumer plastics domestically, and 203 businesses that broker plastics for export. Information about these businesses has been compiled into a special handlers/reclaimers database.
A 1998 study identified 1,792 businesses that handle and/or reclaim (sort, process and/or produce) post-consumer plastics. Information about these businesses has been compiled into a special handlers/ reclaimers database. Community recycling representatives can use the database to locate potential markets for their collected materials by calling APC’s plastics information line at 1-800-2-HELP-90.
