Colin Staub is a reporter at Resource Recycling. He can be contacted at [email protected].
The move last week by 187 governments to alter a global waste treaty will mean further uncertainty for U.S. scrap plastic exports.
Brian Riise on stage at the 2019 Plastics Recycling Conference and Trade Show.
An expert recently explained why North American e-plastics processing could be a component of a wider effort to reduce energy use in U.S. manufacturing. And he outlined steps for progress.
Optical sorting technology is at the center of a patent infringement lawsuit between equipment suppliers Green Machine and Machinex.
Alan Barcon of PolyOne Corporation.
Processing technology can be used to overcome shortcomings in both PET and mixed plastics, according to two plastics recycling professionals.
Maine lawmakers approved the first statewide prohibition on polystyrene foodservice packaging last week. The plastics industry quickly criticized the move.
Federal legislation proposed in Canada requires consumer packaging to be made from a short list of recyclable materials. The guidelines include only two plastic resins.
Geneva, Switzerland
The scrap plastic trade will receive focus this week in Switzerland, where countries are meeting to discuss and consider amending global waste regulations.
As international leaders consider action in response to plastic pollution, environmental activists are arguing that turmoil around scrap exports is exacerbating the problem.
Scrap plastic shipments from the U.S. declined from 122 million pounds in January to 120 million pounds in February. That February volume was the lowest single month of plastic exports since December 2003.
