General Definitions

Plastic packaging received from a consumer, whether residential, business or institutional, following the consumer’s use. Collection rate refers to the materials collected as a percentage of materials generated.

The breakdown of an organic chemical compound by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen to carbon dioxide, water and mineral salts of any other elements present (mineralization) and new biomass. A packaging or packaging component is compostable if it is in compliance with relevant international compostability standards and if its successful post-consumer collection, (sorting), and composting is proven to work in practice and at scale.²

Plastic packaging supplied to consumers and available for collection from consumers.

Material recovery facility.

Post-consumer resin, plastic that has already been recycled and is ready to use again in new products or packaging.

All products made of plastic used for the containment, protection, handling, delivery and presentation of goods, from raw materials to processed goods, from the producer to the user or the consumer.³

Plastic packaging that is reprocessed into products, packaging, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes, excluding energy recovery. The recycling rate is materials recycled as a percentage of materials generated.

A package or packaging component is recyclable if its successful post-consumer collection, sorting, and recycling is proven to work in practice and at scale.⁴

Plastic packaging that is refilled or used for the same purpose for which it was conceived. Packaging is reusable if it has been designed to accomplish or proves its ability to accomplish a minimum number of trips or rotations in a system for reuse.⁵

Plastic packaging that is sorted and prepared for shipment to an end-market. Note that shipments typically include a proportion of contamination. The sorting rate is materials sorted as a percentage of materials collected.