Black plastics are hard to sort. Newer tech may help
Black plastics are difficult to recycle due to their light-absorbing properties, which interfere with optical sensors at MRFs. But Finland-based Specim says it has a solution.
Antoinette Smith has covered commodity plastics and supply chains for more than a decade, with a special focus on economic impacts and consumer behavior. She brings a balanced, thoughtful view to recycling stories, and isn't afraid to ask "why?" Contact Antoinette at antoinette@resource-recycling.com.
Black plastics are difficult to recycle due to their light-absorbing properties, which interfere with optical sensors at MRFs. But Finland-based Specim says it has a solution.
With domestic demand building slowly, U.S. processors must look to industries outside electronics manufacturing to absorb their e-plastics volumes, according to panelists at the recent E-Scrap Conference in Orlando.
As energy sourced from wind turbines grows, the issue of disposing of end-of-life blades also has increased in complexity and severity, spurring legal challenges and new technologies.
With domestic demand building slowly, U.S. processors must look to industries outside electronics manufacturing to absorb their e-plastics volumes, according to panelists at the recent E-Scrap Conference in Orlando.
Global PE heavyweight Dow recently introduced a line of resins containing 30-100% PCR for use in cable jacketing applications.
Meeting sustainability targets such as increased PCR content are not just the right thing to do but also essential for maintaining high performance, according to the chief sustainability officer at flavoring giant McCormick & Co.
A group of researchers hopes to foster discussion and cooperation throughout the plastics value chain with their recent paper in the scientific journal Nature.
Even as the U.S. Southeast continues to clean up after Hurricane Helene, the western coast of Florida is bracing for Milton, which is expected to be the second category 5 storm in less than two weeks to hit the area
The new leader of the U.S. Plastics Pact shared insights on where the organization is headed and how to tackle challenges such as public skepticism and disconnects between many stakeholders in sustainability.
In the past two weeks, the U.S. East Coast has experienced the double punch of a massive port strike and a devastating hurricane, exacerbating already uncertain market fundamentals. While the dockworker strike was very brief, storm-related destruction in the Southeast will last for weeks – if not months or years.
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