North Carolina To Require Recycling of Plastic Laundry Bottles

North Carolina has become of the first states to require recycling of all plastic containers. Beginning October 1, rigid plastic containers such as soda and water bottles, milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles can no longer be discarded in non-recyclable waste bins.“There’s a huge environmental payoff, but what made this bill so attractive to legislators was the economic benefits it will provide statewide,” says Scott Mouw, environmental supervisor for the North Carolina Department of the Environment and Natural Resources. “Plastic bottle recycling is big business both domestically and internationally, as corporations can cut their costs by reusing the containers instead of producing new ones from virgin materials,” Mouw said.

A new $50 million plant is being built in Fayetteville to recycle plastic bottles into polyester fibers to be used for carpeting. A win-win for everyone.