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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].

Plastic bag drop-off guide is taken off-line

Published: November 28, 2023
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The Film Drop-Off Directory is ending services after 20 years of operation. | Pavel Kubarkov/Shutterstock

A long-running comprehensive guide to public drop-off sites accepting plastic film has been taken down, leaving a gap in consumer-facing recycling information for bags and other flexible packaging. Continue Reading

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OECD: Global plastics progress requires cooperation

Published: November 14, 2023
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Analysts at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development estimate that with full global cooperation, plastics use in products could be reduced by 30% compared to 2020 levels. | DeawSS/Shutterstock

Countries must work together to enact policies that reduce virgin plastic demand, support design for recyclability, bolster recycling systems and improve collection.
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Plastics recovery project underway in Pacific Northwest

Published: August 7, 2019
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An industry-backed demonstration project is taking place at a former Far West Recycling facility in Portland, Ore. | Jared Paben / Resource Recycling, Inc.

Last week marked the start of a two-month effort to sort a variety of resins from loads of material otherwise bound for disposal. The goal is to develop a pool of data that can help guide future industry investments.

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Company produces mixed-plastics bolt-on system

Published: December 22, 2021
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ByBlock from ByFusion

ByBlocks can be made from almost any combination of low-grade, contaminated scrap plastics, which don’t need to be washed or pre-processed before going into the ByFusion line. | Courtesy of ByFusion

ByFusion, an equipment supplier based in Los Angeles, is selling a modular system that processes low-grade mixed plastics into construction products.

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LDPE recycling firm Circulus plans ambitious rollout

Published: December 15, 2021
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Circulus facility interior.

The processing line at Circulus gives the company the ability to easily switch between processing LDPE, PP and HDPE, although its initial primary focus is on LDPE film. | Courtesy of Circulus

A film recycling company that recently opened its first facility in California aims to launch two additional plants in the U.S. next year, with more on the way in the future.

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Greenpeace and Walmart continue renewed legal battle

Published: December 15, 2021
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Walmart store exterior.

The Greenpeace lawsuit focuses on Walmart’s use of the How2Recycle label on certain of the company’s private label plastic packaging. | QualityHD/Shutterstock

A lawsuit alleging Walmart deceives customers about recyclability of its packaging has been reopened. Attorneys for Greenpeace expect their complaint, which was previously dismissed by a federal judge, will be allowed to move forward in its amended form.

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Multiple factors constraining food-contact PCR supply

Published: December 8, 2021
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Pellets spilled from tube onto blue surface.

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.

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Plastic exports take a tumble in third quarter

Published: December 8, 2021
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Cargo ship loading at terminal, seen from above.

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.

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KW Plastics adds dedicated polypropylene wash line

Published: December 1, 2021
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View of KW Plastics' new wash line for PP recycling

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.

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Plastic pollution draws federal and global attention

Published: December 1, 2021
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Flags from various nations against a blue sky background.

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.

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