Marissa Heffernan worked at Resource Recycling from January 2022 through June 2025, first as staff reporter and then as associate editor. Marissa Heffernan started working for Resource Recycling in January 2022 after spending several years as a reporter at a daily newspaper in Southwest Washington. After developing a special focus on recycling policy, they were also the editor of the monthly newsletter Policy Now.
Brook + Whittle’s GreenLabel BlockOut product is a crystallizable shrink sleeve, which is used with de-inkable inks and a functional barrier coating. | Courtesy of Brook + Whittle
A Connecticut-based manufacturer of shrink sleeves and flexible packaging has secured a U.S. patent for a coating that both blocks light and works in the existing recycling system. Continue Reading
Colgate-Palmolive said several challenges may require work beyond 2025, the target date for many of its sustainability goals. | Ungvar/Shutterstock
As the 2025 sustainability deadlines set by many brands get closer, another global heavyweight has announced that it will likely miss some of its target goals. Continue Reading
Heartland developed hemp-based materials that can be used as additives in plastic compounds. | StanislauV/Shutterstock
A Detroit-based startup that uses natural fiber as plastic additives has secured an investment from a German business incubator. Continue Reading
Coming from inside the ranks of the state agency, Zoe Heller was appointed director of the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery. | Rarrarorro/Shutterstock
California’s sizable waste reduction and recycling agency has a new leader in Zoe Heller, who was recently appointed director of the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery. Industry leaders praised her integrity, thoughtfulness and collaboration skills. Continue Reading
The 162,000-square-foot Blue Polymers facility will process PE and PP in Buckeye, Arizona after it becomes operational in late 2025. | Mr_Mrs_Marcha/Shutterstock
The second Blue Polymers recycled resin facility will be sited in Buckeye, Arizona, and is slated to open in late 2025. Continue Reading
Five big North American haulers recently reported their first quarter earnings. | Janossy Gergely/Shutterstock
Publicly traded recycling collectors saw bale prices rise in the first quarter, contributing to higher revenues and a positive outlook for the year ahead.
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From left: Dan Leif, Holli Alexander and Candace Rutherford. | Big Wave Productions/Plastics Recycling Update
This story has been corrected.
Chemical recyclers are forging partnerships, eyeing underutilized material streams and getting creative to secure enough supply to feed their ambitious plans, according to leaders in the sector. Continue Reading
Stina reported that 90% of toothpaste tubes and over 75% of all HDPE plastic squeeze tubes on the U.S market have designs compatible with color HDPE recycling streams. | ILYA AKINSHIN/Shutterstock
After nearly a decade of work, 90% of toothpaste tubes and over 75% of all HDPE plastic squeeze tubes on the U.S market have designs compatible with color HDPE recycling streams, Stina Inc. recently reported. Continue Reading
Metaspectral was awarded a six-month contract from Environment Climate Change Canada for film sortation. | Mabeline72/Shutterstock
Canadian remote sensing software company Metaspectral received government funding to develop equipment to sort plastic film.
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The week of negotiations had moments of both hope and frustration for delegates, who are racing against the clock to create a final treaty. | Photo courtesy of IISD/ENB Kiara Worth
The fourth meeting to draft a global plastic pollution treaty ended just after 3 a.m. on April 30 with general agreement on the need for global rules and mandates on product design, composition, performance and extended producer responsibility.