Maine's lawmakers and governor are fighting a big battle over small containers. The legislature wants to place a deposit on liquor bottles called "nips," but Gov. Paul LePage is vowing to fight it. As currently drafted, Legislative Document 56 would place a five-cent deposit on containers holding 50 milliliters or less. Both chambers have already voted to approve the legislation...

More than 134,000 jobs in the U.S. are in some way supported by exports in the recycling industry, according to a new analysis. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) commissioned a study of the economic impacts of scrap recycling. Last month, it released the results of the study, which was conducted by John Dunham and Associates. On May 17,...

More than 134,000 jobs in the U.S. are in some way supported by recycled commodities exports, according to a new analysis. The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) commissioned a study of the economic impacts of scrap recycling. Last month, it released the results of the study, which was conducted by John Dunham and Associates. On May 17, it released...

To begin to recover targeted plastics from multi-layer packaging, one of the world's largest consumer product companies says it will use a unique technology and "empower waste pickers." London-based Unilever announced it will build a pilot plant in Indonesia later this year to test long-term commercial-scale viability of what's called the "CreaSolv" process. The company will target pouches, bags and packets –...

A stewardship group has pledged to submit a new carpet collection and recycling plan to California regulators, as state officials this week detailed their plans for bringing the hammer down. The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) released a draft enforcement plan against carpet manufacturers, and department staff discussed the plan during a May 16 meeting. Recycling carpet...

Aluminum rolling and recycling company Novelis continues to boost its usage of recovered metals. The Atlanta-based aluminum behemoth reported it had recycled inputs of 55 percent during the 2017 fiscal year, up from 53 percent the year before. The number has been steadily rising for years and sat at 33 percent in 2011. Novelis purchased or tolled 1,700 kilotons of...

When investigators reported last year on how new PCs were failing to meet their stated sustainability credentials, a reoccurring problem emerged: e-plastics weren't being labeled correctly. That's one takeaway from a series of Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) verification reports issued for 2016. EPEAT is a program of the Portland, Ore.-based Green Electronics Council. Often used by environmentally minded...

Any time a government forces residents to change their behaviors, there's the possibility of a strong pushback. But a recent webinar explored ways municipal officials can draft and implement mandatory recycling ordinances without drawing substantial resistance. Multiple themes emerged in the presentation, including the need for compromise and, crucially, consistent communication with affected parties. "Public education is critical to the...

Maryland will regulate compostability claims on plastic products and study ways to boost composting throughout the state. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on May 4 signed two bills aimed at improving organics diversion. Passage of the bills was hailed by the interest group Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). "Composting sustains four times more jobs on a per-ton basis than landfilling or...

Nationwide retailer Big Lots will pay millions of dollars to settle accusations that it improperly landfilled electronics and hazardous waste. The company recently reached a civil settlement with 35 district attorneys from throughout California, according to a press release. Prosecutors accused Big Lots of failing to properly manage and dispose of materials at its 206 California retail stores and its...