Alexei Volkov
Plastic clamshells are a widely used form of packaging, particularly for food products such as fruit and vegetables. They are made from PET (Polyethylene-terephthalate) plastic, which is marked with a #1 symbol and is one of the most recyclable plastics. However, despite being made from recyclable PET plastic, many recycling programs do not accept plastic clamshells. This is because clamshells are made using a different process to other PET containers, which results in PET products of different grades. Additionally, clamshells often contain strong adhesives and melt at different temperatures to plastic bottles, making them difficult to recycle effectively.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Polyethylene-terephthalate |
| Symbol | #1 |
| Other Names | PETE, PET |
| Plastic Type | Thermoformed plastic |
| Plastic Number | One of the few plastic numbers accepted curbside |
| Recyclability | Difficult to recycle, recyclable at select facilities |
| Contamination | Gets contaminated with food or during the single-stream recycling process |
| Colour | Clear |
| Cost | $2-4 per clamshell bag |
| Reusability | Reusable and reclosable |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic clamshells are made from Polyethylene-terephthalate (PET)
Thermoformed PET clamshells pose several challenges for recycling. Firstly, they break into different-sized chips compared to plastic bottles and have varying melting points, making it difficult to simply mix clamshells with plastic bottles during recycling. Additionally, clamshells often have strong adhesives that are hard to remove, further complicating the recycling process. When clamshells are processed at material recovery facilities (MRFs), operators and sorting equipment struggle to differentiate them from other similarly-shaped containers made of different plastics.
As a result, when PET bales are created for shipping, they may be "contaminated" with plastic clamshells, reducing the purity of the desired PET material. Recycling facilities aim to produce the purest bales of a specific material to obtain the best market rate. In the case of plastic #1, these bales would ideally consist solely of bottles and jugs, as they are made of a uniform type of PET plastic. Hence, facilities may lose money by dealing with lower-quality PET plastic when clamshells are mixed in.
Despite these challenges, some organizations, such as Ridwell, specialize in collecting and recycling clear plastic clamshells marked with the #1 PET symbol. Ridwell works with partners like Green Impact Plastics to ensure that clamshells are recycled and given a new life, avoiding contamination that could occur in mixed recycling bins. They wash, reprocess, and transform the clamshells into post-consumer resin, which can be used to create new plastic products.
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PET is one of the most recyclable plastics
PET, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a clear, durable, and versatile plastic that is recognised as one of the most recyclable plastics globally. PET is identified by the number 1 and is widely used in beverage bottles and food packaging. Its unique characteristics, such as chemical and mechanical resistance, brightness, and transparency, make it a preferred choice for many industries.
One of the key advantages of PET is its recyclability. Recycled PET (rPET) is highly sought after as it significantly reduces environmental impact. Using rPET to create new products, such as bottles, winter jackets, rugs, and playground equipment, results in a 79% reduction in total energy consumption and a 67% limitation in greenhouse gas emissions compared to using new plastic. This makes it an attractive option for companies aiming to reduce their carbon footprint.
However, it is important to differentiate between different forms of PET packaging. While PET bottles and jugs are widely accepted by local recycling programs, PET clamshells are often not included. This is due to the different manufacturing processes used for clamshells, which result in PET products of varying grades. Clamshells are produced through thermoforming, while bottles and jugs are created through blow moulding. The recycling challenges posed by PET thermoform containers have been acknowledged by organisations such as the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR).
Despite these challenges, some companies, such as Ridwell, specialise in collecting and recycling hard-to-recycle plastics, including PET clamshells. By offering collection services directly from members, they can ensure that clamshells are properly recycled and transformed into post-consumer resin for new plastics. This process helps create a circular economy, minimising the negative impact of plastic waste on the environment.
In summary, PET is recognised as one of the most recyclable plastics due to its unique properties and the economic value it brings to the recycling industry. While there may be challenges in recycling certain forms of PET, such as clamshells, advancements in recycling technologies and dedicated efforts by specialised companies are helping to address these issues and promote a more sustainable future.
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Clamshells are hard to recycle due to contamination
PET plastic is one of the most recyclable plastics. However, plastic clamshells are hard to recycle due to contamination.
Clamshells are often contaminated with food or during the single-stream recycling process. They also have labels with strong adhesives that are difficult to remove. This makes it challenging to recycle clamshells and bottles together as they produce more fine particles when processed and have different bulk densities. When clamshells are processed at material recovery facilities (MRFs), operators and sorting equipment struggle to differentiate them from other similarly shaped containers made of different plastics. As a result, the final PET bales are "contaminated" with plastic clamshells, reducing their purity and market value. Many recycling programs and MRFs won't accept clamshells for recycling, even though they are made of recyclable PET plastic.
The recycling process for clamshells and bottles also differs. Bottles are created through blow molding, while clamshells are made using thermoforming, resulting in different grades of PET products. These distinct processes make clamshells harder to recycle alongside bottles, as they melt at different temperatures and break into different-sized chips.
Despite these challenges, clamshells can be recycled. Some companies, like Ridwell, specialize in collecting and recycling hard-to-recycle plastics, including clamshells. They offer pickup services for clear #1 PET plastic clamshells, ensuring they are thoroughly cleaned and reprocessed into post-consumer resin for new plastics. However, it is important to check with local recycling facilities, as not all of them accept clamshell packaging.
To reduce the environmental impact of clamshells, consumers can also opt for biodegradable and compostable alternatives. However, these alternatives currently have a limited number of industrial composting facilities capable of effectively composting them, often ending up in landfills and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
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They are lightweight, durable, and widely used for food packaging
PET (or PETE) plastic clamshells are widely used for food packaging because they are lightweight and durable. They are made from a plastic called Polyethylene Terephthalate, which is one of the most recyclable plastics. However, despite being made of recyclable PET plastic, many recycling programs do not accept clamshells for recycling. This is because clamshells are made using a process called thermoforming, which results in a different grade of PET plastic compared to the plastic used for bottles and jugs. The distinct processes give the PET plastic different densities, causing issues for recycling facilities.
Clamshells are a popular choice for food packaging as they are strong enough to protect fragile items like berries, salad greens, cherry tomatoes, and eggs during transportation. They are also tamper-resistant, which deters package pilferage. Additionally, they can be made to be reusable and reclosable or securely sealed, requiring customers to cut them open. This secure sealing can make them difficult to open, sometimes requiring the use of scissors or a knife.
The process of thermoforming clamshells results in plastic chips of varying sizes compared to plastic bottles, and they melt at different temperatures. Clamshells often have strong adhesives that are challenging to remove. These factors make it difficult for recyclers to simply mix clamshells with plastic bottles, as it can compromise the quality of the final recycled product.
While PET plastic clamshells are theoretically easy to recycle, they are remarkably challenging to recycle in practice. This is primarily due to the nature of the materials used and the process of manufacturing, which results in varying densities of PET plastic. As a result, recycling facilities prefer to handle only PET bottles or a small proportion of clamshells mixed with bottles to maintain the purity of the end product.
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![100% Compostable Clamshell Take Out Food Containers [6x6" 50-Pack] Heavy-Duty Quality to go Containers, Natural Disposable Bagasse, Eco-Friendly Biodegradable Made of Sugar Cane Fibers](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81PaB71lN7L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Clamshells are often recycled into new clamshells
Plastic clamshells are made from two identical plastic "shells" that fit around the product and hinge on one side. When the sides are pressed together, snaps form a seal, some of them harder to unfasten than others. Clamshells are often made from PET (or PETE) plastic, which is one of the most recyclable plastics. However, clamshells are typically formed using a process called thermoforming, which gives them a different grade to PET bottles and jugs, which are formed using blow moulding. This means that clamshells are often not accepted by local recycling programs, even though the plastic is technically recyclable.
When plastic clamshells are processed at material recovery facilities (MRFs), operators and sorting equipment have a hard time differentiating the clamshells from other similarly shaped containers made of different plastics. This means that when PET bales are created to be shipped for processing, they are "contaminated" with the plastic clamshells. As a result, many recycling programs and MRFs won’t accept clamshells for recycling, even though they are made of recyclable PET plastic.
However, some companies are now specialising in recycling clamshells and turning them into new clamshells. For example, Ridwell collects clamshells from its members and works with a partner called Green Impact Plastics to recycle them. Another company, K&S Recycling, has been helping keep clamshells out of landfills in the Pacific Northwest since 2009.
If there are no recycling solutions near you, you can try to avoid purchasing products with plastic clamshell packaging. You can also contact the manufacturer or producer and let them know that you will purchase their product again when they switch to a recyclable type of packaging.
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Frequently asked questions
PETE #1 plastic, also known as PET, is short for Polyethylene-terephthalate. It is one of the most recyclable plastics and is often accepted by local recycling programs.
A PETE #1 plastic clamshell is a type of plastic packaging that is made from PETE #1 plastic. Clamshells are one-piece containers with two halves joined by a hinge, allowing them to close securely. They are commonly used for food products like fruits and vegetables and are lightweight yet durable.
Recycling PETE #1 plastic clamshells can be challenging due to the unique manufacturing process and the presence of strong adhesives. Some local recycling programs may not accept them, but specialized recycling companies like Ridwell offer collection services for clear PETE #1 plastic clamshells in select areas. It is important to separate clamshells from other recyclables and ensure they are clean and free of contamination.
