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Author Archives: Marissa Heffernan

About Marissa Heffernan

Marissa HeffernanMarissa Heffernan started working for Resource Recycling in January 2022 after spending several years as a reporter at a daily newspaper in Southwest Washington. She can be contacted at [email protected].

New programs pop up in Iowa redemption deserts

Published: April 24, 2024
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Bottle return at a reverse vending machine.

After a 2022 program overhaul allowed most retailers to opt out of deposit system container collection, a report from Cleaner Iowa found that there are 29 counties without a redemption center. | Veja/Shutterstock

Overhauls to Iowa’s bottle bill in 2022 that allowed retailers to opt out of collection are reducing access, as industry players warned when the bill passed. But redemption centers are stepping up to help solve the problem – including by launching a new bag drop program.  Continue Reading

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Fourth global plastic meeting digs into details

Published: April 24, 2024
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Delegates made opening remarks at the first day of the fourth United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting in Canada. | Photo Courtesy of Earth Negotiations Bulletin

The first day of the fourth meeting to draft a global plastic pollution treaty started off with speed as delegates acknowledged the time crunch to get treaty text prepared.  Continue Reading

Tim Hortons testing recyclable fiber coffee lids

Published: April 17, 2024
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Select Tim Hortons locations in Ottawa and Gatineau will test the fiber lids for up to six weeks to see if they can replace plastic lids. CNW Group/Tim Hortons

Some Canadian Tim Hortons customers will test fiber hot beverage lids in the coming weeks, an attempt by the coffee giant to replace plastic lids with something that will fit into the recycling stream.   Continue Reading

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Pressure mounts before fourth UN treaty meeting

Published: April 17, 2024
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The fourth United Nations Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meeting will be held in Ottawa, Canada, April 21-30. | Nexus 7/Shutterstock

The penultimate meeting to draft a global plastic pollution treaty will kick off next week in Ottawa, Canada, and stakeholders say there’s a lot riding on this fourth meeting.  Continue Reading

LyondellBasell reduced pellet loss, invested in expansion

Published: April 17, 2024
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LyondellBasell produced and marketed 123,000 metric tons of recycled and renewable-based polymers in 2023. Its goal is to produce and market 2 million metric tons by 2023. | JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock

LyondellBasell worked to expand its line of recycled polymers and reduced the amount of plastic pellets lost into the environment slightly in 2023, its latest sustainability report noted.  Continue Reading

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Circular Action Alliance submits EPR plan in Oregon

Published: April 10, 2024
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An initial extended producer responsibility for packaging plan in Oregon covers the years 2025 through 2027. | Yanqiang Dai/Shutterstock

The shape of Oregon’s extended producer responsibility for packaging plan is becoming clearer after the Circular Action Alliance released its initial program plan to the state.  Continue Reading

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Berry Global increased recycled resin use in 2023

Published: April 10, 2024
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In its 2023 Sustainability Report, Berry Global noted that it increased its post-consumer recycled resin purchases to 3.6% of all resin purchases, compared to 3.4% in 2022. | Artemis Diana/Shutterstock

Global packaging producer Berry Global used slightly more post-consumer resin in its products in 2023 and increased the amount of post-industrial resin and bioplastic it uses, reaching for 2025 and 2030 goalposts. Continue Reading

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Panelists: AI has a bigger role to play in recycling

Published: April 10, 2024
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Panelist Rebecca Hu said during the session that AI is moving beyond robotics and the technology is on track to provide data and create partnerships that could improve the whole value chain. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling

Artificial intelligence is a key element of increasing plastic recycling, panelists at the 2024 Plastics Recycling Conference in Grapevine, Texas, said last month. Continue Reading

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Eastman sites second chemical recycling facility

Published: March 26, 2024
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The new facility will have the capacity to recycle approximately 110,000 metric tons annually. | Mr_Mrs_Marcha/Shutterstock

Eastman is planning to build its second chemical recycling facility in Longview, Texas, and the U.S. Department of Energy will grant the project up to $375 million, the company recently announced.  Continue Reading

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California releases deposit system update draft rules

Published: March 26, 2024
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Different beverage containers, metal, glass and plastic.

SB 1013 brought more container types into the California Redemption Value system but also removed an option for retailers to choose to pay a $100 daily fee instead of accepting returned containers. | VanderWolf/Shutterstock

Formal rulemaking for changes to California’s deposit system is about to begin, and draft rules shed more light on new requirements for beverage dealers and retailers. Continue Reading