U.S. PET Recycling Rate Falls to 29% as rPET Imports Rise
NAPCOR's 2025 report reveals declining PET bottle recovery across North America, even as recycled content in new U.S. bottles reaches a record high.
MONTREAL (RecyclingMonster): North America's post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling industry recorded mixed results in 2025, according to the latest report from the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR). Bottle recycling rates declined despite record recycled PET (rPET) content in new U.S. bottles.
The U.S. PET bottle recycling rate fell to 29.0% from 30.2% in 2024. Across North America, encompassing the United States, Canada and Mexico, the collection rate declined to 36.0% from 39.2%.
U.S. post-consumer PET bottle collections dropped 3.6% to 1.821 billion pounds, even as the quantity of PET bottles available for recycling increased slightly.
Recycled PET Content Reaches Record 22.9%
Despite lower collection rates, average recycled PET content in U.S. bottles rose to a record 22.9%, compared with a revised 20.7% in 2024.
Imported material accounted for a record 39.1% of rPET use in the United States and Canada, up from 35.5% a year earlier. The figures highlight a growing reliance on overseas recycled material as domestic reclamation capacity faces pressure.
Lightweight Bottles Challenge PET Recovery
NAPCOR also identified bottle lightweighting as a challenge for recycling operations. Although lighter packaging reduces plastic use, some PET bottles can flatten and behave like paper during sorting, increasing the risk of material losses at recycling facilities.
Meanwhile, U.S. and Canadian reclaimers processed a record 226 million pounds of post-consumer PET thermoforms in 2025, an increase of 7.4% year over year.
Imports and Plant Closures Pressure Domestic Recyclers
The combination of rising recycled-content demand, increasing imports and domestic reclaimer closures raises concerns about the industry's ability to maintain and expand North American processing capacity.
NAPCOR emphasized the need for stronger domestic collection and reclamation infrastructure to support continued bottle-to-bottle recycling growth.
Source: NAPCOR, 2025 PET Recycling Report announcement, November 11, 2026.
RecyclingMonster Industry Edge
More Recycled Content Does Not Necessarily Mean More Domestic Recycling: PET packaging manufacturers are using more recycled resin, but a growing share is imported while North American bottle collection weakens. For domestic reclaimers, the key commercial challenge is converting rising recycled-content demand into dependable orders for locally processed PET, supported by competitive costs and reliable collection volumes.
Related industry coverage: ScrapMonster: U.S. PET Recycling Hit by Capacity Drop, Import Surge
PET Recycling: Frequently Asked Questions
What was the U.S. PET bottle recycling rate in 2025?
NAPCOR reported a 29.0% recycling rate, down from 30.2% in 2024.
What was North America's PET bottle collection rate?
The 2025 rate was 36.0%, compared with 39.2% in 2024.
How much recycled PET was used in U.S. bottles?
Average recycled PET content reached a record 22.9% in 2025.
What share of recycled PET was imported?
Imports accounted for 39.1% of recycled PET used in U.S. and Canadian markets in 2025.
How much PET thermoform packaging was processed?
U.S. and Canadian reclaimers processed 226 million pounds of post-consumer PET thermoforms in 2025.