SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): The new white paper published by the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA) aims to dispel the myths propagated by media on plastic recycling. Such actions will only add to plastic waste. Instead, there must be increased focus on steps to improve plastic recycling, it said.

NWRA highlighted that the high value of plastic recyclables make it a desirable community. It must be noted that the index pricing for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) had touched highest level of $1,000 per ton, while those of natural high-density polyethylene (HDPE) had reached $2,000 per ton.

Only #1, #2 and #5 plastic bottles and jars can be recycled at residences. Other plastic packaging could be recycled by returning them to stores. Plastic packaging accounts for only 40% of all plastics.

The white paper classified plastic into three categories- durable, which can be used for more than three years; nondurable, which can be used for less than three years and packaging, which is used for less than a year. Among these, non-durable plastic materials have the lowest overall recycling rate of only 2.4%. Also, only around 6.8% of durable plastic goods are recycled.

The white paper calls for supporting the use of recyclable packaging by promoting plastic recycling.