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Author Archives: Colin Staub

About Colin Staub

Colin-StaubColin Staub is a reporter at Resource Recycling. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Groups eye shipping industry for Basel enforcement

Published: February 24, 2021
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Cargo ship at port.

A number of environmental groups wrote to shipping lines urging them to stop carrying scrap plastics. | Jordi Prats/Shutterstock

Activists have contacted the world’s largest shipping lines, asking them to stop carrying loads that violate new Basel Convention regulations covering the global scrap plastic trade.

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Companies announce film recycling innovations

Published: February 24, 2021
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Plastic film collected for recycling.

Film supplier INDEVCO Plastics announced its launch of industrial films and bags that use up to 50% recycled resin, including both post-consumer and post-industrial content. | Mabeline72/Shutterstock

Two film suppliers recently expanded their offerings with recycled-content films. Meanwhile, an Australian project began producing a concrete-alternative from post-consumer flexible packaging.

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Recycling policy continues to churn in statehouses

Published: February 17, 2021
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curbside carts

Massachusetts is the latest state to propose extended producer responsibility for packaging, the largest component of the residential recycling stream. | Thanatos Media/Shutterstock

An expansive packaging stewardship proposal was recently introduced in Massachusetts. Meanwhile, a bill providing state assistance to bolster recycling markets has cleared both legislative chambers in Maryland.

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Details on a Canadian e-plastics operation

Published: February 17, 2021
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Inside the BoMet facility.

BoMET is one of a number of North American companies that saw that opportunity and are investing to expand their e-plastics processing capacity. | Courtesy of BoMET Polymer Solutions

BoMET Polymer Solutions is actively sourcing e-plastics from electronics recycling firms for the company’s Ontario processing facility, where it produces pellets and regrind for sale to manufacturers.

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End user in Southeast expands mixed-plastic capacity

Published: February 17, 2021
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Reviewing business documents at a desk.

IntegriCo describes itself as a leader in the composite industrial products manufacturing industry. | Rei Imagine/Shutterstock

IntegriCo, which processes recovered plastics into composite rail ties, is adding new product lines and increasing its recycled material consumption.

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Global group looks to support chemical recycling projects

Published: February 17, 2021
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Mixed plastics baled for recycling.

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste is accepting funding applications for chemical recycling projects through April 30.| paul prescott/Shutterstock

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste is accepting applications to provide up to $20 million for individual chemical recycling ventures, according to a recent request for proposals.

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Supply issues and virgin competition jostle resin prices

Published: February 10, 2021
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Plastic pellets with blue pigment pellets.

An industry analyst recently gave insight on how the virgin plastic market is impacting recycled plastic markets. | Joyce Blessthink/Shutterstock

Recycled plastic sellers are facing cost pressures from cheap virgin material, and an expert says reclamation costs will not come down to close that pricing gap.

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Council publishes ‘blueprint’ for improvement

Published: February 10, 2021
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U.S. Capitol building with water in foreground.

The Recycling Leadership Council has proposed a number of federal policy concepts to improve residential recycling nationwide. | Lithuaniakid/Shutterstock

A coalition of industry associations and other recycling stakeholder groups released a document calling “for a national strategy to improve, advance and increase recycling in the United States.”

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Exports continued downward trend in 2020

Published: February 10, 2021
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U.S. exports of recovered commodities decreased in 2020, continuing a multi-year trend. | Jose Luis Stephens/Shutterstock

Scrap plastic exports from the U.S. decreased last year, but shipments to certain countries grew sharply, according to newly released figures from the federal government.

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QRS Re-Poly sold to settle debt from failed expansion

Published: January 27, 2021
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Re-Poly facility exterior.

QRS facilities had trouble in recent years as falling resin prices challenged the financial viability of models built around deeper sorts of the plastics recycling stream. | Photo from Ravinia Capital.

This story has been updated.

A well-known St. Louis plastics recycling operation has been auctioned off, and the processing company is now called Granite Peak Plastics.

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