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PET Facts
- The PET bottle was first patented in 1973 by chemist Nathaniel Wyet
- The first PET container was recycled in 1977
- The 22 737 tons of PET collected in 2008 translates into an estimated 12 000 jobs
- 1 ton = 30,000 plastic bottles
- Recycling 1 ton of PET saves 1.5 tons of Carbon Dioxide vs. land filling or incineration (Credit : WRAP)
- Recycling one ton of PET containers saves 6.2 cubic metres of landfill space
- Up to 40% less fuel is used to transport drinks in plastic bottles compared to glass bottles
- Approximately 30 bottles = 1kg PET
- It takes 19 x 500ml PET bottles to make the fibre for a standard pillow
- Recycling a single plastic bottle can conserve enough energy to light a 60W light bulb for up to 6 hours
- Since 1978, manufacturers have reduced the weight of a 2 litre bottle by about 29% from 68 grams to 48 grams
- 25 recycled PET bottles can be used to make an adult's fleece jacket
- Q : How light is a PET bottle?
A: 500ml = 26 – 28g; 2 ltr = 54 – 56g
- In South Africa, Gauteng generates the most PET post-consumer product at 55% of the national total, followed by the Western Cape with 13%, KwaZulu Natal accounts for 10% of PET waste, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga account for 5% each and North West and Free State each generate 4% of SA’s post - consumer PET product. Limpopo and the Northern Cape create the smallest PET post-consumer product at 3% and 1% respectively.
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