“We need [post-consumer] polyethylene to be looked at like recycled PET is,” he said. “[Recycled] PET is sold at a premium [to virgin PET]. [Post-consumer] polyethylene needs that same kind of attention.”
Picciuto is president of the Western Plastics Association trade group and also serves as Western market manager for materials supplier H. Muehlstein & Co. Inc. He’s based in Tunstin, Calif.
California’s proposed statewide bag ban — which will go before voters next November — was proposed by “greedy grocers” who want to charge 10 cent per bag for thicker plastic bags, Picciuto said. He added that if the ban is successful, it will lead to job losses at plastics processing firms.
Picciuto also called for the industry to invest in recycling infrastructure and to work with its detractors.