The enormous variety and abundance of plastic packaging turns out to be a big headache for the recycling industry. “It’s a big challenge,” acknowledges Steve Alexander, President of The Association of Plastic Recyclers.
“Clamshells are usually made out of PET plastic, so they are highly recyclable,” says Alexander.
There is big demand for recycled PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) content in new clamshells, particularly those used in the food industry. However, clamshells aren’t being recycled because they aren’t being collected, and if collected, most existing material recovery facilities can’t sort them out from the other materials. And if they can sort them, sticky labels or food residues can be a problem to remove, as is the cardboard backing on blister packs, he said.
The public is increasingly buying products that are more sustainable—and come in appropriate packaging—at twice the rate of other products, a 2018 Neilson survey showed.
PLANET OR PLASTIC?
Three things you can do to be part of the solution:
1. Recycle clamshells, making sure to remove any stickers.
2. Advocate for your recycling center to accept clamshells and other packaging if they don’t already.
3. Bring your own reusable containers to a restaurant for leftovers, or to-go orders.