Recycle Bracelet Two Orange © 2010 Harriete Estel Berman

    Recycle Bracelet Two Orange
    © 2010 Harriete Estel Berman
    HDPE post consumer recycled plastic.

    While this bracelet looks delicate and fragile it is practically indestructible.

    Bracelet: 254mm H x 229mm W x 229mm D, 40g
    Photo Credit: emiko oye

    RECYCLE is a series of jewelry constructed from post-consumer recycled plastic; trash that would normally be thrown away (or maybe recycled.)

    The cultural values promoted by the marketplace -- and ultimately found in our junk piles – are fodder for ideas, insight and inspiration.

    This material may not be as precious as gold or silver, but in many ways reveals more about the values of our society.

    These extra-ordinary bracelets also represent a very serious message about the over abundance and waste in our society. Just think about the waste that we throw away every day.

    Plastic is not bio-degradable. In a recent article in The Wall Street Journal * points out that only a small % of PET beverage containers are recycled. "The recycling rate hasn't kept up with the growth of plastic-bottle use of the past 15 years."

    "Coke is wrestling with low recycling rates, rising prices for used plastic as demand from China has grown, and headaches tied to curbside recycling programs. So low is the supply of recycled, bottle-grade PET that its price is about 10% above that of virgin PET in the U.S., according to Coke and recycling industry executives."

    "Due in part ot the woes at the Spartanburg plant, Coke has aout 5% recycled content in its plastic PET bottles today, down from 10% roughly five years ago. PepsCo Inc. says it has 10% recycled PET content. Both rates pale with recycled content in aluminum beverage cans, which stands a 68%, according to the Aluminum Association."

    "Not many bottles are recycled in the first place. The U.S. recycling rate for plastic bottles made from PET, typically derived from petroleum, was 28% in 2009, according to the National Association for PET Container Resources. That compares with a recycling rate for PET plastic bottles of nearly 50% in Europe."
    "In California, which recently strengthened bottle-deposit rules, 68% of PET bottles were recycled last year."

    Think about all the plastic that is not recycled!
    The recycling rate for HDPE used for milk bottles, shampoo bottles and similar containers is even lower!

    *Esterl, Mike. "Plastic Bottle Recycling Is In the Dumps", The Wall Street Journal, Friday, August 19, 2011., Marketplace section pages B1-B2.

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