The Process The Petretec process (Scheme 2) takes scrap PET (6) and converts it back into its monomers dimethyl terephthalate (3) and ethylene glycol(4). Even many PET products that are contaminated with other materials and thus are not candidates for mechanical recycling, can be treated with this technique to yield pure monomers. Thus, the Petretec process allows for the conversion of scrap PET into its monomers, which can then be polymerized again to produce first-quality PET. These polymers can even be used in beverage containers regardless of the previous life of the scrap PET. The Petretec process not only allows for closed-loop recycling of PET but concomitantly reduces the amount of virgin p-xylene and ethylene glycol that needs to be produced from crude oil for use as PET feedstocks. The chemistry of the Petretec process is out- lined in Scheme 2. The scrap PET is first tested for excess levels of nonpolyester materials that may interfere with the Petretrec process. The scrap PET (6), which meets the standards of the feed preparation step, is dissolved in DMT above 220 oC and then placed in the methanolysis reactor where methanol at 260-300 oC and 340-650 kPa is bubbled through the solution. Under these conditions, the PET (6) is transesterified to produce DMT (3) and ethylene glycol (4).