Is it safe to refill a PET bottle?

The PET bottle itself poses no danger when refilled. PET is an inert plastic and does not leach harmful materials into into its contents -- either when a beverage is stored unopened, or when bottles are refilled or frozen. The PET container has been safely used for 20 years and has undergone rigorous testing under FDA guidelines to ensure its safety as a food and beverage container suitable for storage and reuse.

Opened bottles can harbor bacteria, however, as will mugs glasses or any other beverage container. PET bottles are no more likely to foster bacteria than any other packaging or drink container. Ideally, all drinking containers -- including PET bottles -- should be washed with hot, soapy water and dried thoroughly prior to reuse.

Is it safe to drink beverages that have been frozen in PET bottles?

Dioxin is a chlorine-containing chemical that has no role or presence in the chemistry of PET plastic. Furthermore, dioxins are part of a family of chemical compounds formed only by combustion at temperatures well above 700 degrees Fahrenheit -- not at room temperature or below.

PET packaging is selected by companies because it is safe, recyclable, convenient and suitable for food and beverage. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed migration testing data and concluded the PET containers do not leach harmful amounts of substances into their contents under foreseeable conditions of use.

There is no connection between PET plastic and Bis-phenol A.

Bis-phenol A is not used in the production of PET material, nor is it used as a chemical building block for any of the materials used in the manufacture of PET. Bis-phenol A is used to make polycarbonate, a different plastic from PET.

Do I need to worry about phthalates in PET?

"Phthalates" (pronounced THA-lates) are a class of chemicals that include three subsets, each with different properties. PET or polyethylene terephthalate belongs to one of these phthalate subsets, but not the one most commonly associated with term.

Orthophthalate is the phthalate subset most commonly referenced and discussed in popular literature and on internet sites; it has been the subject of some negative press. Often used to make various plastics more flexible, this type of phthalate is also called a plasticizer.

PET does not contain plasticizers or orthophthalates. Plasticizers are never substituted for terephthalates used in the manufacturer of PET, nor are the two ever mixed.

PET packaging is selected by companies for a wide variety of product applications because it is safe, strong, shatter-proof, and recyclable.


Is there a risk from antimony used to make PET?


Antimony is used as a catalyst in the production of PET plastic. Catalysts speed chemical reactions and are commonly used in manufacturing to ensure that a process happens fast enough to make it commercially practical.

Antimony was chosen based on its performance against various selection criteria, including effectiveness as a catalyst; productivity; safety, few, if any, adverse effects; and an acceptable overall cost. Antimony, used in PET as the oxide of antimony, has been used and researched for decades. Metallic antimony is not used.

In the science of toxic effects (toxicology), two key factors are used to determine a hazard: 1) How dangerous is the material?, and 2) How much of the material is released? A 1997 study showed that antimony oxide has very low toxicity.1 The compound is relatively inert and does not participate in biological life. As for how much antimony oxide is released from PET, long-term studies indicate that it's very little. A report by the International Life Sciences Institute showed "less than five parts per billion" being released into liquid contents.2 This is compliant with the Environmental Protection Agency's National Primary Drinking Water Standard.

Multiplied together, antimony oxide's very low toxicity combined with very low occurrence means very, very low risk. Its use in PET does not endanger workers, consumers, or the environment.

1 APME technical dossier on The Toxicological Properties of Antimony Oxide, 1997, subject of a petition to the EU Scientific Committee on Food (SCF)

2 Report on Packaging Materials: 1. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) for Food Packaging Applications, International Life Sciences Institute, Washington, DC and Brussels, Belgium.

Should caps be removed from or left on bottles? Are caps and neck rings contaminants?

Bottle caps and neck rings are typically made of polypropylene plastic which has a different specific gravity than PET.  This difference allows caps and neck rings to be mechanically removed in a float/sink process and recycled.  Although most caps and neck rings are not a contaminant to the PET recycling process, in some cases, removing them will help with compaction.

What kind of baler should I use to bale PET?

The choice of specific baling equipment at your facility should be a function of your recycling program design and budget, specific market specifications, and facility throughput requirements.

Is a downstroke baler OK?

Yes.  However horizontal balers are considered superior, as they have a motor ad piston/cylinder configuration that can achieve greater compression ratings than most downstroke (also known as vertical) balers.

Would I make more money on my PET  if I grind it instead of bale it?

Not necessarily.  Grinding requires significant investment in capital equipment and is subject to strict and difficult-to-meet quality control requirements.

Are amber PET beer bottles recyclable?

Yes.  Currently markets exist for separated amber bales and mixed colored PET bales.  Contact Alwadood PET for information

Are PET cups recyclable?

Yes, they are recyclable.  Check with your local market to see if it accepts PET cups.

Why can't PET microwave trays be recycled with PET bottles?

They are physically and chemically different from PET bottles.  Currently there is no end use market for this type of plastic.

Are light blue water bottles recyclable?

Yes.  Most markets currently accept light blue bottles.  They are typically mixed in with other transparent PET bottles in predominantly clear and green bales. 

Are there times when I might not be paid for the PET I have collected?

Post-consumer markets are dependent on quantity, quality, market conditions and distance to market.  PET is a commodity and is therefore subject to periodic fluctuations in the marketplace. 

Why does my local market only want PET soda bottles?

They may not be up-to-date on market conditions.  All PET bottles and jars are recyclable.  You may wish to forward this information to your market representatives or refer them here for more information.

Why is the recycling code so hard to see?

Certain molds make it difficult to create a legible code.  In addition, the size and clarity of the recycling codes are not consistent in plastic coding laws enacted in various states.

Is it true that PET bottles make up one-fourth of all the municipal solid waste volume?

No.  PET bottles make up less than 2% of the volume of municipal solid waste.

Why should I serve beverages packaged in PET at my event/school/sports arena?

PET plastic bottles are recyclable and will decrease the volume of waste generated at your venue, as well as potentially generate revenue from the collected containers.

Why do I see so many different types of beverages packaged in PET plastic in the marketplace?

Consumers like PET packaging because it is lightweight, shatter-resistant and resealable - just right for people on-the-go.