Profiles in garbage: Polyethylene terephthalate

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Waste Age

OSTI ID:544121

Miller, C ^[1]

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1. Environmental Industry Associations, Washington, DC (United States)

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a plastic resin used primarily to make bottles. Soft drinks -- along with salad dressing, fruit juices, peanut butter, and other household and consumer products -- use PET bottles. PET also is used for film, sheeting for cups and food trays, oven-safe trays, and other uses. PET is a relatively new packaging resin, first commercialized in the early 1970s. Because it is an ``engineered`` resin, PET is more expensive than commodity resins such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and, for the same reason, it is usually the highest valued plastic recyclable.

• OSTI ID: 544121
• Journal Information: Waste Age, Journal Name: Waste Age Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 28; ISSN WAGEAE; ISSN 0043-1001
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
MUNICIPAL WASTES
POLYETHYLENES
RECYCLING
SOLID WASTES
WASTE MANAGEMENT