In This Issue:

1 | UBC recycling rate nears 70 percent in Europe

A new report points to aluminum beverage can recycling as a rising priority among EU member countries and the closely aligned members of the European Free Trade Association.

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2 | Plastics Recycling 2014: Recycling bags, foam and other difficult plastics

Significant progress has been made in recycling many types of plastic products. Beverage bottles are a very prominent example. But what about the plastic products that still lag behind in recycling? What are the collection, transport, processing and end-market challenges that exist and how do we overcome them?

Mike Birrett, director of the Continuous Improvement Fund in Ontario, will break down the pros, cons and costs of adding expanded polystyrene foam packaging to a collection program. Additionally, Cornell University's Lois Levitan will discuss the development of new markets and uses of agricultural plastic film, wrap and strapping.

Don't miss Plastics Recycling 2014, to be held March 11-12, 2014, 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 12-14. Go to www.plasticsrecycling.com for more information.

3 | Costs still keeping Americans from composting

An online survey of more than 2,000 Americans indicates composting — while an increasingly reasonable proposition — still has some hurdles to overcome before it goes mainstream.

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4 | Certification launches for recycled paperboard industry

Manufacturers claiming to produce 100 percent recycled paperboard now have a way to certify the statement.

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5 | Beverage carton recycling hits 40 percent in EU

According to the latest figures on beverage carton recycling in Europe, 2012 saw recycling rates climb to 40 percent.

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6 | San Francisco plastic bag ban upheld

San Francisco's ban on single-use plastic bags has been upheld, roiling plastic bag manufacturers and bag ban opponents in the Golden State.

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7 | Wide world of recycling

Beijing commuters can now trade in their plastic bottles for subway credits and carpet recycling gains traction in the U.K.

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8 | NewsBits

Portland, Oregon brings its waste diversion rate above 60 percent for the first time; Reno, Nevada gets ready for single-stream collection; and more headlines — it's all in NewsBits.

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9 | Industry & supplier news

Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) has named Spence Bowen regional sales manager, a position that puts him in charge of BHS, Nihot and NRT product sales in the Southeastern U.S. Previously, Bowen served as Eastern regional business development manager for Case-New Holland, a manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment. For more, visit bulkhandlingsystems.com.

Aurora, Colorado-based brokerage Centennial Recycling has hired Frank Sanchez as vice president of strategic development. Sanchez spent the last 16 years at Bio-PAPPEL International (formerly McKinley Paper Company) where he helped secure large corporate accounts and worked to develop two full-service greenfield recycling plants. For more, visit centennialrecycling.com.

10 | Upcoming conferences & webinars

Click here for a complete directory of upcoming conferences and webinars! If you have a conference or webinar that you would like listed, please send an email to [email protected] for consideration.

11 | Jobs available & sought

Environmental Scientist, State of Delaware (Dover, Delaware).
Details are available here.

Grants and Loans Business Lead, Washington Department of Ecology (Lacey, Washington).
Details are available here.

Education & Outreach Coordinator, Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency (Santa Fe, New Mexico).
Details are available here.

Midwest Region Recycling General Manager; Integrated paper, recycling and converting packaging company.
Details are available here.

Sales Personnel, American Reclamation, Inc. (Los Angeles, California).
Details are available here.

Various, Newark Recycled Paperboard Solutions (National).
Details are available here.

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

Various, Product Stewardship Institute (Boston, Massachusetts).
Details are available here.

Various Positions Highlighted by the Northern California Recycling Association (Northern California Area).
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].