Colin Staub is a reporter at Resource Recycling. He can be contacted at [email protected].
A newly published study set out to explore the barriers and possible solutions to growing the use of recycled plastic in food-contact-suitable applications. | StanislauV/Shutterstock
Contaminating additives and declining recycling rates for food packaging are limiting growth in production of food-grade recycled resin, according to research from a consulting firm.
The U.S. exported 288.3 million pounds of scrap plastic during the third quarter, down 24% year over year. | 28 November Studio/Shutterstock
U.S. scrap plastic exports continued a precipitous year-over-year decline moving into the second half of the year, with several large destinations substantially reducing imports.
KW’s new PP wash line has a full capacity of 100 million pounds per year. | Credit: Scott Saunders
KW Plastics in the past month started up a polypropylene wash line that will increase its processing capacity by 100 million pounds per year. Company General Manager Scott Saunders said the line will boost efficiency.
The U.S. Secretary of State has indicated U.S. support for a global plastics pollution treaty. | Gerain0812/Shutterstock
The U.S. has signaled support for a worldwide agreement to reduce marine plastic pollution. Meanwhile, the EU is drafting stricter export rules, a watchdog group is mapping plastic dump sites, and researchers shared findings on the greenhouse gas impacts of virgin plastic shipments.
Per a court settlement, TerraCycle will implement label changes and a supply chain certification program. | Sebastian Duda/Shutterstock
A legal action alleging TerraCycle is misleading consumers about its recycling programs has been settled. TerraCycle CEO Tom Szaky said some of the settlement terms cover work the company was already carrying out internally, but one labeling change is new.
Data shows that in 2020 PET bottles notched a 26.6% collection rate in the U.S., down from 27.9% in 2019. | Torychemistry/Shutterstock
Demand for RPET increased 10% in 2020, but it was accompanied by a decrease in PET bottle collection, according to an annual report from the National Association for PET Container Resources.
NOVA Chemicals noted that rising demand for recycled resin is tied to consumer buying preferences. | Courtesy of NOVA Chemicals
NOVA Chemicals is expanding its PCR business to produce resin made with more recycled plastic, which will be supplied to Charter Next Generation for use in a range of non-food flexible film applications.
TotalEnergies will use chemically recycled plastics in producing new resin that goes into items including flexible and rigid food packaging. | HJBC/Shutterstock
A Texas plant will use chemical recycling technology to convert 66 million pounds per year of scrap plastic into feedstock for new resin production.
Waste Management operates 52 single-stream materials recovery facilities (MRFs), 30 commercial recycling plants, and various other recycling- and composting-related facilities. | Ken Wolter / Shutterstock
The largest North American hauler recovered significantly more plastic in 2020 compared with the prior year, the company recently reported. Waste Management also offered details on recent recycling investments and offered its outlook on domestic markets.
