Colin Staub is a reporter at Resource Recycling. He can be contacted at [email protected].
The U.S. exported 102.3 million pounds of recovered plastic in February, with Malaysia as the top overseas destination. | MAGNIFIER/Shutterstock
U.S. exports of recovered plastic remained consistent in February, despite global trade policy changes that went into effect at the beginning of the year.
With the new facility, HydroBlox has increased its recycled plastic consumption to 1 million pounds per week. | Courtesy of HydroBlox
Stormwater drainage product manufacturer HydroBlox has moved into a larger space and significantly increased its plastics recycling capacity.
A 100,000-square-foot facility in Spain will have the capacity to process more than 50 million pounds of e-plastics per year. | sonsart/Shutterstock
Spanish plastics recycling operation Fosimpe will enter the mixed-plastics processing sector in the coming weeks, driven not only by the global regulatory environment but by greater public interest in domestic material processing.
Malaysian authorities recently approved a container of clean PE scrap for import from U.S.-based Sigma Recycling. | UNIKYLUCKK/Shutterstock
A high-profile scrap plastic shipment from the U.S. to Malaysia was accepted after the importing country’s government said it contained clean, sorted material. The situation demonstrates the complexities in interpreting new plastic shipping regulations.
Chemical recycling processes are specifically excluded from the definition of “recycling” under the recently introduced Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act. | Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock
Legislation that makes sweeping changes to the U.S. plastics recycling system generated quick opposition from industry groups, with plastics industry representatives focused on the bill’s treatment of certain materials recovery processes.
Legislation to be reintroduced will include provisions for a national bottle bill and a ban on certain single-use plastic items. | S-F/Shutterstock
Two members of Congress will revive the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, which includes a national container deposit system and other sweeping changes. Representatives from the plastics industry have countered the push.
California Assembly Bill 842 requires that by 2035, all single-use plastic packaging and products distributed in California include 75% post-consumer recycled content. | Kanittha Boon/Shutterstock
California legislators introduced a bill that creates a packaging stewardship organization and adds packaging fees paid by producers. The bill is the latest in a flurry of plastics-related legislative activity in the state.
A recently introduced joint resolution in California calls on the Biden administration to ratify the Basel Convention. | cmshepard/Shutterstock
A California legislator says U.S. ratification of the Basel Convention would build up domestic processing infrastructure, reduce negative impacts from exports, and create jobs in this country. At least one large reclaimer supports the move.
A number of chemical recycling firms have made announcements recently. | cwales/Shutterstock
Chemical recycling companies have recently announced certifications, development and marketing agreements, investments and more.
U.S. exports of recovered plastic were up slightly in January 2021 compared to the previous year. | anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock
Exports of U.S. scrap plastic increased in January 2021 compared with 2020, despite new Basel Convention regulations on plastic shipments.