In This Issue:

1 | APR plays up battle among associations in member update

Referring to itself as a "David in the land of Goliaths," the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) has released its annual member update, highlighting continued battles with emerging plastic groups, oxo and bio-degradable bag advocates and budget constraints.

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2 | Plastics Recycling 2014: Labeling issues unwrapped

Coordination between product designers and plastic recycling companies is rare, but that may be changing. As bottle manufacturers and beverage companies push new type of labels, industry groups are stepping in to make sure recycling options exist for bottles featuring the fresh formats.

Plastics Recycling 2014 will highlight how groups are approaching the issue of shrink sleeve labels from different angles. Explaining the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers' guidelines and recent success stories for label design will be John Standish, APR's technical director. For an industry perspective, attendees will hear from Eastman Chemical sustainability market development manager Holli Whitt, speaking on behalf of the Full Wrap Label Consortium. Finally, Avery Dennison senior sustainability manager Rosalyn Bandy will offer a manufacturer's take on product design.

Don't miss Plastics Recycling 2014, to be held March 11-12 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. For more information, visit www.plasticsrecycling.com.

Attendees are also invited to come early and stay late for some great additional events. On the afternoon of March 10, the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) will host a technical forum. The Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) will hold its winter membership meeting on March 13. And the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Environmental Division will hold the Global Plastics Environmental Conference March 12-15. Go to www.plasticsrecycling.com for more information.

3 | Maryland bottle bill faces familiar foe — counties

In the coming weeks, Maryland legislators will again consider legislation that aims to establish a bottle bill in the state. But the effort will likely face stiff opposition from a coalition of Maryland counties, a group pivotal in shooting down container deposit legislation in 2013.

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4 | Wisconsin looks to plastics to improve recycling

Wisconsin officials have given the green light to a series of initiatives that target plastics recycling.

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5 | New Jersey firm caught hoarding unclaimed deposits

A New Jersey-based beverage distributor has been ordered to pay nearly $160,000 to the state of New York for withholding unclaimed beverage container deposits.

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6 | Will California usher in statewide bag ban?

California policymakers hope the third time's the charm for a bill that would institute a ban on single-use plastic bags by 2015. It would be the first statewide ban in the nation.

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7 | PetroChem Wire: Recycled PS still weak in early January

HIPS pellet prices were down a penny per pound in the first half of January as demand stagnated.

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8 | Coca-Cola and KAB continue recycling bin grant program

The Coca-Cola Foundation and Keep America Beautiful have announced the continuation of their popular recycling bin grant program.

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9 | Plastics Recycling 2014: Time running out for early-bird rate

If you plan on attending Plastics Recycling 2014, you have only until Feb. 1 to take advantage of the early-bird registration rate. After Feb. 1, registration for the premier informational and networking event in North American plastics recycling will cost an additional $50 per person. Don't wait to join in on the action! Register now and connect to hundreds of industry companies and professionals.

Don't miss Plastics Recycling 2014, to be held March 11-12 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida. For more information, visit www.plasticsrecycling.com.

10 | NewsBits

A major Minnesota newspaper raises concerns about the state's recent bottle bill proposal, and researchers in India find a way to turn used plastic bags into fuel for cars and other applications. Check out the details in NewsBits.

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11 | Upcoming conferences & webinars

Click here for a complete directory of upcoming conferences and webinars.

12 | Jobs Available & Sought

Recycling Specialist, City of Livermore (Livermore, California).
Details are available here.

Environmental Engineer, University of Florida (Gainesville, Florida).
Details are available here.

Industrial Development Representative, North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources (Raleigh, North Carolina).
Details are available here.

Sales Director, Emerald Pacific (Austin, Texas / Mexico City).
Details are available here.

Materials Manager, CP Group (San Diego).
Details are available here.

VP of Sales and Marketing, CP Group (San Diego).
Details are available here.

Sales and Marketing Professional, Birch Plastics, Inc. (Houston).
Details are available here.

Various Sales Positions, Waste Management (National).
Details are available here.

Jobs Sought
Database of job seekers available here.

If you would like to submit a job available or job sought listing, send an email to associate editor Dan Leif at [email protected].