Submitted to The Association of Plastic Recyclers by Franklin Associates, a Division of ERG
OVERVIEW
This analysis is an update and expansion of a recycled resin study completed in 20112 that quantified the total energy requirements, energy sources, atmospheric pollutants, waterborne pollutants, and solid waste resulting from the production of recycled PET and HDPE resin from postconsumer plastic.
This study provides updated data on production of recycled PET and HDPE resin and adds new data for recycling of postconsumer polypropylene (PP) resin. In addition to updating results categories addressed in the original analysis, this report includes life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) results for additional results categories including acidification potential, eutrophication potential, and smog formation potential.
The following sections of this chapter describe key aspects of life cycle assessment methodology as applied in this analysis.