Post-Consumer recycled content is content created by consumers after a product has reached the end of its use. This material is diverted from the landfill and utilized in the production of other commodities. It is much different from pre-consumer content, which is generated by companies during the manufacturing process that is reused in production. The benefit of using post-consumer content is it reuses refuse in the manufacture of goods, preventing items from ending up in the landfill or needing to rely on raw materials.

An example of post-consumer content is aluminum cans. After a can has been bought at the store and has served its use, it is put in a recycling bin for collection. Once the can has been separated from the refuse along with other aluminum materials, it is then sent to a manufacturer where it is melted down and used in the creation of other aluminum products.

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Other Sources

“What is Post Consumer Recycled Content.” Green-Buildings.com. https://www.green-buildings.com/articles/what-is-post-consumer-recycled-content/#. Accessed June 14, 2016.

Dunn, Collin. “Post-Consumer Recycled Goods: Recycling Waste into Stuff.” Treehugger. November 8, 2007. http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/post-consumer-recycled-goods-recycling-waste-into-stuff.html. Accessed May 26, 2016.

Hickman, Matt. “What’s the difference between pre- and post-consumer recycled content?” Earth Matters. April 26, 2010. http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/recycling/questions/whats-the-difference-between-pre-and-post-consumer-recycled-content. Accessed May, 26, 2016.