Japan collected 40.1 per cent of PET bottle output for recycling last year, the highest rate ever, the Environment Ministry has reported.

Aiding the collection rate was an 11.3 per cent jump in output of polyethylene terephthalate resin bottles compared to the previous year, the Ministry said. PET bottles dumped in the year increased by only 1.7 per cent.

A ministry official said the recycling system, based on the packaging and wrapping material recycling law, wass firmly taking root in Japan.

Collected PET bottles are reprocessed into such products as textiles for clothing and plastic sheets.