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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].

Alpek closing North Carolina PET plant

Published: June 4, 2025
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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.

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Financing, uncertainty feed EU recycler bankruptcies

Published: May 29, 2025
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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.
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WM unveils bigger, better film recycling plant in Texas

Published: May 29, 2025
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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

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Bale pricing bucks seasonal trend, trade alliances shift

Published: May 21, 2025
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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

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Texas bottle bill hits milestone, but does not pass

Published: May 21, 2025
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Andrew Yahin/Shutterstock

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. 

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Clarity on future of FDA LNO program yet to emerge

Published: May 14, 2025
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Resins spilled out of a tube onto a pink background.

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. 

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APR training highlights challenges in film recycling

Published: May 7, 2025
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Rebecca Mick, program director of film and packaging innovation for APR, presented design guidance at a recent training session. | Tan Sackett/APR

Industry leaders and packaging design engineers explored the challenges to recycling film and flexible plastics during an inaugural packaging design training session recently in Houston. Continue Reading

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Ameripen details progress, obstacles for PCR

Published: May 7, 2025
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The updated report examined increases in PCR usage and processing capacity, but noted that CPG companies are unlikely to meet this year’s plastics targets. | Meaw Stocker/Shutterstock

Although consumer packaged goods companies made progress toward their recycled-content goals, critical gaps remain in supply security, according to a recent report from Ameripen. As a result, the industry advocacy group says these companies are unlikely to meet their 2025 PCR targets.  Continue Reading

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Traceability intersects with profitability, compliance

Published: April 30, 2025
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Three panelists at the Plastics Recycling Conference explored why product traceability not only is vital for verifying PCR use but also can streamline processes and enhance profits. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling

Enabling product traceability is vital to provide PCR accountability and can even help streamline recycling processes, according to several panelists during a session at the recent Plastics Recycling Conference. Continue Reading

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Eastman, LyondellBasell provide plant updates

Published: April 30, 2025
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The two chemical majors remain optimistic on demand for recycled polymers, while slowing plans for new U.S. capacity. | Rene Notenbomer/Shutterstock

Two U.S.-based chemical companies discussed upcoming recycling projects during recent earnings calls, expressing optimism despite persistent economic uncertainty and potential administrative hurdles.
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