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Author Archives: Antoinette Smith

About Antoinette Smith

Antoinette Smith started working for Resource Recycling in June 2024 after spending several years covering commodity plastics and supply chains, with a special focus on economic impacts. She can be contacted at [email protected].

Analysis: Import tariffs could support struggling PET

Published: September 10, 2025
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The sudden inclusion of both virgin and recycled PET in US tariff lists is good news for domestic recyclers, but frustrating for importers. | Tezzstock/Shutterstock

Editor’s Note: Resin markets will be featured in sessions at the 2026 Plastics Recycling Conference, Feb. 23-25 in San Diego, California. Register now for the best rates.

The sudden inclusion of PET resin in the list of imports subject to hefty tariffs is causing concern for some stakeholders and relief for others, even as a disappointing peak summer season draws to a close. Continue Reading

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Shell to supply chemically recycled PE for specialty films

Published: September 10, 2025
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Charter Next Generation will use chemically recycled polyethylene produced at Shell’s plant in Monaca, Pennsylvania, in its flexible packaging.| Photo courtesy Shell Polymers

Editor’s Note: Chemical recycling will be featured in sessions at the 2026 Plastics Recycling Conference, Feb. 23-25 in San Diego, California. Register now for the best rates.

Specialty film producer Charter Next Generation has agreed to buy polyethylene (PE) produced by Shell Polymers using chemically recycled feedstock, for use in high-performance flexible packaging. Continue Reading

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Trump adds PET resin to ‘reciprocal’ tariffs

Published: September 8, 2025
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PET resin previously was not subject to the 2025 tariffs, and the move drew comment from APR but added to market confusion. | BigPixel/Shutterstock

Editor’s note: This is a developing story.

US President Donald Trump has expanded tariffs to include PET resin as of Sept. 8, according to a new executive order. The move drew comment from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) because of its expected impact on imported resin, but added uncertainty to the market.

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FCC gets single largest TRP grant for film collection

Published: September 3, 2025
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The $4.25 million grant to upgrade FCC Environmental’s Houston MRF will enable better recovery of plastic film. | Photo Courtesy of FCC

Hauler FCC Environmental Services has been awarded a $4.25 million grant from The Recycling Partnership (TRP) to improve film and flexible plastics recovery at its materials recovery facility (MRF) in Houston, representing TRP’s largest single grant to a MRF. Continue Reading

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Stewardship exec: Key to EPR success is to watch, wait

Published: September 3, 2025
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Reverse-vending-machine-aleks333-Shutterstock

Reverse vending machines are one component of some deposit return systems | Aleks333/Shutterstock

Takeaways in two minutes (or less)

  • Watch, wait and learn from the “starter seven”
  • Focus first on expanding bottle deposit systems
  • Highlight economic impact to gain bipartisan support
  • Kentucky, Tennessee, Carolinas primed for action
  • Learn from the Canadian experience

 

In an active year for legislation aimed at reducing plastic pollution and waste, recycling stakeholders have a bevy of lessons to draw from, even with bills that have come under attack or didn’t quite pass. Continue Reading

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WEF tackles plastic pollution in developing nations

Published: August 27, 2025
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Among the areas of concern for the Global Plastic Action Partnership is improving conditions for workers in the informal recycling sectors common to developing countries. | Pradeep Gaurs/Shutterstock

Since its founding in 2018, the Global Plastic Action Partnership, part of the World Economic Forum, has worked to address plastic pollution in developing countries, creating a network of partnerships across Latin America, Asia and Africa.
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Circularix starts Florida RPET plant, expands Pennsylvania site

Published: August 27, 2025
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The expansions will bring the company’s annual capacity to 165 million pounds of RPET resin. | Photo courtesy of Circularix.

RPET producer Circularix has completed commercial startup of its second food-grade pelletizing facility, located in Ocala, Florida, and announced it will expand capacity at its flagship site in Hatfield, Pennsylvania.

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CalRecycle reopens comments for SB 54 rules

Published: August 27, 2025
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Baled plastics for recycling.

The draft regulations have seen several iterations, drawing criticism from industry stakeholders. | Ultrasto/Shutterstock

California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has opened the public comment period for its latest draft of regulations for the state’s extended producer responsibility law for packaging, which have drawn criticism from industry stakeholders.
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Brand owners lead initiative for scalable film, flex recycling

Published: August 20, 2025
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A coalition including General Mills, Mars, PepsiCo and other major brands will focus on states with EPR programs for packaging, starting with California. | Noppuns/Shutterstock

Several global brand owners have joined forces to create the US Flexible Film Initiative (USFFI), a nonprofit membership organization helping to advance scalable solutions to recycle flexible plastic packaging.
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APR updates design recognition, submissions

Published: August 20, 2025
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The Association of Plastic Recyclers recently announced updates to its Design for Recyclability program. | Photo Credit Tan Sackett/APR

The Association of Plastic Recyclers has added new packaging components to its eligibility criteria for Preferred Design Recognition, along with a new tool to simplify the submission process.
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