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A nationwide bottle deposit programme could substantially elevate the recycling rates of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the US, according to a team of researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).<\/p>\n
The MIT team\u2019s research encompassed an analysis of PET bottle collection and recycling rates across various domestic states and countries with and without bottle deposit policies.\u00a0<\/p>\n
They also examined the impact of existing bottle deposit policies and kerbside recycling programmes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s study indicates that a nationwide programme could boost recycling rates to 82%, a significant increase from the current stagnant rate of approximately 24%.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The researchers found that the implementation of a uniform national bottle deposit policy could help meet the recycling targets set by proposed legislation and corporate pledges.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
By adopting economic models from states with successful deposit programmes, the team concluded that a 10\u00a2 deposit per bottle could cover the supply needs of packaging producers at a net cost of approximately 1\u00a2 per bottle when demand is robust.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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