Winners are announced in a $1 million contest focused on addressing non-recyclable plastics, and two major cities add additional plastic items to their curbside programs.
Design for recycling: The New Plastics Economy initiative has chosen the six winners of its $1 million Circular Design Challenge, which selected projects addressing the estimated 30 percent of packaging that’s too small or complex to be effectively recycled. The winners, announced in a press release, include a range of companies from app developers to product manufacturers.
Repeal or replace?: Container deposit stakeholders say Iowa’s 38-year-old bottle bill has been effective, but they also agree it could benefit from an update. But as the Quad-City Times newspaper reports, opinions vary on how best to “modernize” it: Some stakeholders want to repeal the legislation, but others want to change it to include more container types and pay a higher handling fee.
Program progress: Two large municipal recycling programs will begin accepting new items, including a host of plastics. Washington, D.C. is expanding its recycling program to add paper and plastic plates; cups; lids; to-go containers; plastic produce, deli and bakery containers; and trays. Separately, San Francisco announced it is expanding its list of accepted recyclables — local Fox News affiliate KTVU reports the city’s curbside recycling program will accept paper cups, cartons and plastic film.
Harvey plastics impacts: Prices for prime plastics are rising, a result of Gulf Coast production disruptions caused by Hurricane Harvey, RISI reports. Comparing this month’s prices to September’s, HDPE rose 13 percent, LDPE 7.5-8.2 percent, PP 4.6 percent and PS 3.2 percent.
Looking to grow: TerraCycle, the Trenton, N.J. company that specializes in recovering hard-to-recycle materials, is looking to raise $25 million in growth capital, NJ.com reports.
Big Apple evolution: New York City plans to roll out citywide single-stream recycling by 2020 in a push to increase the city’s recycling rate. In a press release, Mayor Bill De Blasio’s office describes the move as part of an effort for the nation’s biggest city to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, in the wake of the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw from the accord earlier this year.
