useful statistics

• 360 million plastic bottles were recycled in 2002

• 3% of household plastic bottles are currently recycled

• 9.1 billion plastic bottles were disposed of in 2002

• plastic bottle recycling schemes currently operate in 238 local authority areas

• 1 tonne = 20,000 plastic bottles

• 18,000 tonnes of bottles recycled in the UK in 2002 saved approximately 18 million kWh of energy

• there are approx 500 bottles in a typical bale

• the majority of plastic bottles are made from PET or HDPE

• recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a 60W lightbulb for up to 6 hours

• the average sales value of sorted baled bottles (PET & HDPE) over the last 5 year period has been £123/tonne

• 330,608 tonnes of plastics packaging waste were recycled in 2002 (DEFRA)

• 11% of household waste is plastic, 40% of which if plastic bottles

• during 2002 plastic bottles worth around £27 million were disposed of at a cost of £45 million

• reprocessor demand for plastics outstrips supply 3 times over

• high performing kerbside collection schemes typically generate 5-10kg plastic bottles per household per year

• 25 recycled PET bottles can be used to make an adult's fleece jacket

• up to 40% less fuel is used to transport drinks in plastic bottles compared to glass bottles

• plastic packaging uses only around 2% of all crude oil produced