We recently received a box of used #1 PET food containers with a letter from a consumer in Ohio, who was having a hard time finding a place to recycle them. We were very happy to receive these used containers, as they can go directly into our own full circle recycling process and be used to create new food packaging.
The consumer felt it was impossible to recycle #1 PET packaging outside of California, claiming that no Material Recover Facilities (MRFs) take them, and that they damage regular recycling machinery. In fact, #1 PET is engineered to be recycled! It is the most recycled plastic in the world, and #1 PET food containers can be recycled just like #1 PET beverage bottles. A majority of MRFs across America already accept them for recycling, so you can normally put them in your curbside recycling bin.
If you are not sure where to recycle your #1 PET containers, here are some ideas:
- Check which drop-off locations are close to you by entering your zipcode on Earth911
- Send them to our Direct Pack head office, and we will recycle and reprocess them into new packaging. Our address is Direct Pack, Inc., 1025 W. 8th Street, Azusa, CA 91702.
- Contact us for more information
Full circle business model
At Direct Pack, we operate a full circle business model and have our own recycling and reclaiming facilities, called Direct Pack Recycling (DPR). In October 2022, we are doubling our recycling capacity by opening our second DPR, “El Segundo”, in close proximity of our newest manufacturing facility. Here at DPI, we feel it is our responsibility to educate our partners, customers and their consumers on the true benefits of #1 PET packaging and how the full circle recycling process works.
In this video, you can see what it looked like when our team member Guillermina added the food packaging from Ohio to the sorting line at our Direct Pack Recycling facility.
