Material acceptance at MRFs varies widely by locality, but several stakeholders explained the factors behind such wide-reaching decisions. | StoyanYotov/Shutterstock
Several MRF operators recently provided insight into how their facilities decide what materials to accept, during a discussion on bridging the disconnect between brand owners and MRFs. Continue Reading
The $375 million grant represented about one-third of the required funding for the company’s second U.S. chemical recycling plant. The operational Kingsport, Tennessee facility is pictured. | Photo Courtesy of Eastman
Tennessee-based Eastman has lost its $375 million federal grant, which previously had spurred the company to make a final investment decision on its second U.S. methanolysis plant, located in Texas.
Health care workers can earn rewards for recycling IV bags, and redeem them for a pair of Vida sneakers made using recycled PVC | Photo Courtesy of Orbia
PVC and medical waste are both areas often considered to be non-starters for plastics recyclers. But global vinyl producer Orbia is expanding its program that incorporates both, as well as helping improve the standard of living for some of the most vulnerable people in the recycling system. Continue Reading
Industry groups are working to define their position on the complex technologies included in the broad and ill-defined sector of chemical recycling. | Extarz/Shutterstock
In recent weeks, two U.S. recycling organizations have released policy positions on chemical recycling. But questions remain for the often controversial recycling methods included in the umbrella term of chemical recycling, also known as molecular or advanced recycling. Continue Reading
The Fayetteville site is the company’s second U.S. PET plant to close in less than two years. | Aykut Erdogdu/Shutterstock
Major PET producer Alpek is closing a North Carolina plant that includes both virgin and RPET production, with operations to cease by July 31.
Despite sweeping legislative mandates that would seem to result in stronger demand for recycled content, Europe has seen its own share of hurdles to PCR adoptions. | Ugis Riba/Shutterstock
While delays and court setbacks have provided a temporary and tenuous reprieve from President Donald Trump’s market-disrupting tariffs, the European recycling sector continues to struggle with a rash of bankruptcies, most filed months before the trade war even began.
Continue Reading
The $150 million plant near Houston — nearly three times bigger than the original — will ramp up throughout 2025 to its monthly capacity of 7.5 million pounds of resin. | Photo Courtesy of Natura
The nation’s largest waste services provider, WM, is unveiling its new $150 million plastic film recycling facility in Waller, Texas. Continue Reading
Foreign trade partners see risk as well as opportunity amid tariff-related chaos, market sources said. | Alones/Shutterstock
This story has been corrected.
Post-consumer plastics bales are defying typical springtime trends, with average pricing in May reported flat-to-softer on the month as the peak summer season nears. Continue Reading
Using data including state litter studies, the bill moved farther along than previous efforts, lending optimism to its potential to pass in 2027. | Andrew Yahin/Shutterstock
A bipartisan bill in Texas to introduce a bottle deposit return system ran out of time for a state House vote, but supporters see cause for optimism after a strong showing during the recently concluded biennial legislative session.
Following dramatic staffing cuts and an overall lack of clarity from federal officials, the future of an important program for recycled plastics remains a question mark. | StanislauV/Shutterstock
Amid sweeping federal staffing cuts, the future of a government program to assess processes to make food packaging from recycled plastics is unclear, sources told Plastics Recycling Update in recent interviews.