While Europe and Canada have pushed forward extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs for packaging, in the U.S. the notion remains just an idea. A recent webinar hosted by the Product Stewardship Institute offered some compelling perspective from stakeholders working within producer responsibility frameworks around the globe. In EPR systems, the companies that manufacture products and packaging are held responsible for...

The Sustainable Materials Management Coalition (SMMC) released a report recently on how to maximize a product's environmental benefits throughout its life cycle. To achieve this, the report recommends government and recycling leaders focus on reducing waste generation in addition to increasing the national recycling rate. The report states that reducing the environmental impact of a material's use across the entire...

A New York-based electronics recycling company has moved into a bigger building, allowing it to expand operations and hire more employees. Sunnking, headquartered in Brockport, a village near the Canadian border, has moved into a 204,000-square-foot office and processing facility. That is double the size of its previous location, according to a press release.The new facility also includes a 10,000-square-foot...

United Nations University has released a report on the problems associated with leaded glass from CRTs. The study specifically addresses disposal and recycling options and whether the leaded glass can replace raw materials. Analyzing various applications First, researchers identified which raw materials could be replaced by leaded glass. Silica and sand were the most common, making leaded CRT glass useful...

The collapse of e-scrap company Creative Recycling Systems is still being felt in South Carolina, where nearly a dozen solid waste agencies are being sued by Creative's former landlord. Although CRT glass isn't specifically mentioned in the latest lawsuit, E-Scrap News previously reported that 30 million pounds of CRT glass was left behind at various locations in six states, including...

The weight of electronics recycled in 2014 increased from the year before, according to data from the U.S. EPA. The electronics recycling rate in 2014 was 41.7 percent. That is an increase from 37.8 percent the year before. In all, 1.4 million tons of electronics were recycled in 2014, up from nearly 1.3 million tons.E-scrap generation, however, stayed the same...

The death of a worker at a Plastic Recycling Inc. facility in Indianapolis has been deemed an accident, according to police. The Indy Star reported 31-year-old Michael Burris was crushed to death while unclogging a foam densifier late last week. The machine apparently turned on while he was inside. The incident is still under investigation. The Indiana Occupational Safety and...

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the American Chemistry Council trade group have announced a formal partnership to try to lift plastic bag and film recycling. The EPA says it will help the ACC's Wrap Recycling Action Program (WRAP) campaign increase awareness of the recyclability of plastics bags and other film. Currently, more than 18,000 stores across the country accept...

Two groups released consumer recycling surveys on America Recycles Day, and the results show millennials may have a slightly misguided understanding of materials diversion. Research from nonprofit group Keep America Beautiful (KAB) found the main reason people recycle is to reduce the amount of waste that is going into landfills. Fifty-one percent list that as their main reason for recycling,...

Five sorting centers in Quebec, Canada have been selected to take part in a pilot project that organizers hope will lead to the recycling of all curbside glass. The pilot is part of Éco Entreprises Québec's (ÉEQ) Innovative Glass Works Plan. Each facility will receive glass separation and clean-up systems from Krysteline Technologies. In all, the investment totals $4.1 million...