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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].

French incentives spur restart on work for recycling plant

Published: October 1, 2025
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The immediate effect of a tiered incentive shows the power of state-level initiatives to support the value chain and reinforce EPR laws. | Photoeu / Shutterstock

Recycling technology company Carbios will restart construction on its enzymatic PET recycling plant in Longlaville, a move attributed in part to French governmental incentives. The so-called biorecycling plant is expected to start production in the second half of 2027. 

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Cutting healthcare plastics could save $18B

Published: September 24, 2025
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A new report says healthcare plastics could rise 40% by 2040, but scaling recycling strategies could cut waste in half and save $18B annually across global systems. | Steve Allen / Shutterstock

Healthcare organizations generate large quantities of recyclable single-use plastics, but face unique challenges, said panelists during a recent webinar from Eunomia Research and Consulting. 

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Resynergi moving operations out of California

Published: September 25, 2025
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In recent months the chemical recycler has faced community objections to its proposed chemical recycling plant in Northern California. | Courtesy of Resynergi

  • CEO says company ‘grew out’ of the current site
  • Company hopes to announce new location by end of year
  • Pilot plant has not yet run, but is ‘ready to go’

Chemical recycling startup Resynergi will move its operations from northern California to another state after experiencing more community pushback than it expected, the CEO said.
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Analysis: Dire EU landscape hints at US future

Published: September 17, 2025
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The closure of California reclaimer rPlanet Earth has set alarm bells ringing for the North American plastics recycling industry, as sustainability legislation fails to sufficiently support Europe’s recyclers. | Christophe Licoppe / Shutterstock

In recent weeks, industry calls to action have grown louder about addressing the existential crisis in Europe’s plastics recycling sector, despite the region’s rapidly advancing sustainability mandates. Continue Reading

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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

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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