BARRINGTON, ILL. (Feb. 8, 2:30 p.m. ET) -- Nearly a year and a half after the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers encouraged consumers to recycle their bottle caps, the Closure and Container Manufacturers Association has made its support publicly known.

The “Caps On” program is the result of a partnership between the two organizations that aims to make leaving lids and caps on plastic containers the norm.

The two groups are developing educational resources and are working with material recovery facilities (MRFs) as well as recycling haulers for support in the initiative.

Consumers were told for years to remove container lids, but now that recycling collection and processing technology have improved, the twist off is no longer necessary.

Growing demand in the domestic and import markets for recycled polypropylene and polyethylene have spurred the effort according to reports of APR’s member companies. Rather than requiring recycling programs, the market is now demanding that the materials be recovered, repurposed and recycled.

Of course, some communities are not readily equipped to handle the changes and some MRFs may take longer to accept lids on containers.

“This is the beginning of a continued effort to increase the recovery of more plastic containers and enclosures,” said CCMA Chairman Jack Hoscheit, in a news release. “It will not be a quick shift, but boosting plastic recycling rates is an important ongoing commitment.”

APR started recommending that consumers leave caps and lids on bottles and containers in 2010, in order to boost the amount of material collected and to avoid sending consumers conflicting messages.

CCMA is based in Barrington, Ill.; APR is headquartered in Washington.