A recently released report estimates the U.K. recycled about 38 percent of its plastic packaging in 2014. The Plastics Markets Situation Report, produced by the waste prevention and research group WRAP, states about 2.2 million metric tons of plastic packaging were put on the market in 2014. The report notes that about 1.38 million metric tons were disposed of, and...

A sortation technology, an approach to carpet recycling and synthetic turf recovery – all are covered in our latest patents rundown. A method of recycling scrap carpet is the subject of Patent No. 9,266,112, awarded to the Omaha, Neb.-based Columbia Insurance Company. Hamburg, Germany-based CVP Clean Value Plastics GmbH was given Patent No. 9,266,257 for a method of sorting out...

A U.K. grocery chain will accept plastic Easter eggs for recycling, and some Iraqi children who fled violence now survive by scavenging plastics from landfills. Edible cutlery: An Indian company was recently featured on the website of The Better India for its edible cutlery, which is marketed as an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable plastic cutlery. The company, BAKEYS, was...

Waste Management's CEO says the company is still making some money on recycling but its return on capital is lagging, and environmentalists urge Minneapolis to ban plastic bags. Container deposits: Massachusetts lawmakers will continue a long-running debate over the state's 33-year-old bottle bill, the Boston Herald reports. Under legislation submitted by the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy, the...

Houston council members approve a contract continuing curbside recycling but jettisoning glass, and newspapers resist joining British Columbia's printed paper and packaging stewardship group. Contract approved: The Houston City Council approved a two-year contract with Waste Management (WM) preserving curbside recycling in America's fourth-largest city but removing glass from the program. The council on March 23 approved the agreement, which...

The U.K. government has scaled back its plastics packaging recovery targets. In outlining its 2016 budget, the U.K. government noted it would be resetting targets "to reduce the burden on business." Brand owners working independently or as part of larger compliance programs have been responsible for meeting packaging recovery targets set by the government since extended producer responsibility legislation passed...

The Association of Plastic Recyclers has announced its 2016 webinar series, and topics include the design guide for recyclability, rigids recycling and more. APR will hold the following free webinars as part of its plastics recycling educational webinar series (all webinars begin at 1 p.m. EST): April 19: The APR Plastics Recycling Showcase: Celebrating Innovations that Support the Growth of...

Terrorist attacks in Brussels have prompted the cancellation of the Plastics Recycling Show Europe, and a report estimates a 25 percent jump in the number of plastics recycling facilities in Europe in the immediate future. Conference cancelled: Tuesday's terrorist attacks in Brussels have prompted the cancellation of the Plastics Recycling Show Europe (PRS Europe), show organizer Crain Communications Inc. UK...

The beverage industry prepares to defend bottled water in Montreal, and an Ontario HDPE and PP reclaimer will open a facility in Alabama. The beverage industry is gearing up to defend bottled water after the mayor of Montreal suggested the city, which recently approved a ban on plastic bags, address bottled water next. The Toronto Star reports the Canadian Beverage...

Outerwall, the publicly traded firm that owns electronics trade-in company ecoATM, has been facing financial pressure. A recent report from Outerwall shows ecoATM lost more than $100 million last year. Following a much-publicized critique last month of its business model from one of its core investors, Outerwall announced this week it would be exploring "financial and strategic alternatives to maximize...