One of the most familiar types of plastic packaging is made from a plastic called high-density polyethylene or "HDPE" for short. HDPE is one of the most versatile plastic resins used in the packaging industry, and is used in bottle, film and injection-molded packaging applications. HDPE plastics offer a wide range of desirable properties and characteristics for packaging applications such as toughness, low cost and good barrier properties.

This compilation of Best Practices for High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Recycling, documents recycling industry methodology and recommendations for the efficient techniques and improved safety for each of the major recycling processing steps. It is intended to be a guideline for operators of recycling processes on various topics related to without infringing on any organization's proprietary process technology or techniques.

The Clean Washington Center acknowledges the American Plastics Council, the Association of PostConsumer Plastic Recyclers, David Hurd, and Ron Perkins for their techical contributions.