PET bottle laying across PET flakes.

Aykut Erdogdu/Shutterstock

An analysis of PCR supply constraints drew reader attention last month, alongside coverage of changes in recycling labels, medical plastics recycling, EPR fee mechanisms and black plastics sortation.

The list below shows our top stories published in October in terms of unique page views.

1 | Analysis: Undersupply of PCR is ‘stifling’ brand goals

A new report from Bloomberg’s market research division provides further evidence of brand owners struggling to meet stated recycled content goals due to a lack of available material and cost pressure.

2 | How2Recycle to roll out updated, ‘smart’ labels

How2Recycle has announced new looks and capabilities for its labels, including the ability to scan a QR code and access The Recycling Partnership’s Recycle Check data.

3 | Capturing medical plastics ‘well suited to recycling’

The medical and research fields hold great potential for closed-loop plastic recycling as long as logistics can be solved, some in the industry recently said – and several companies are working to do just that. 

4 | In My Opinion: Understanding packaging EPR producer fees

The extended producer responsibility programs for packaging that are currently unfolding in several states impose two primary obligations on producers of covered materials: reporting data and paying fees to a producer responsibility organization.

5 | Black plastics are hard to sort. Newer tech may help

Black plastics are difficult to recycle due to their light-absorbing properties, which interfere with optical sensors at MRFs. But Finland-based Specim says it has a solution.