Flexible Plastic Packaging Isn’t Being Recycled

Flexible plastic packaging, otherwise known as FPP, is the fastest growing form of packaging in the U.S. It is created in hundreds of forms, but most commonly used by consumers in plastic bags, sealable granola pouches and big pet food bags.

FPP is lightweight, uses less plastic than rigid packaging, has a smaller environmental footprint in production and is more cost-effective.

However, most FPP is not recycled in single-stream residential collections because sorting plants are not equipped to handle it. It’s estimated that at least 12 billion pounds of FPP in the U.S. ends up in landfills or is incinerated yearly. FPP is estimated to grow from three to six percent a year.

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