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.
The 2024 Plastics Recycling Conference brought 2,500 attendees together for sessions and a sold-out exhibit hall of more than 240 booths. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling
The 2024 Plastics Recycling Conference kicked off Monday in Grapevine, Texas, bringing energetic conversations around policy, investments and designing for recyclability. Continue Reading
High schooler Nathan Wei’s project, “Novel Elastomeric Polystyrene via Photopolymerization and Post-Functionalization of Durable Ultra-High Molecular Weight Perfluorostyrene Copolymers,” won fourth prize in the Regeneron Science Talent Search. | Courtesy of Regeneron Science Talent Search
A high school senior from Gainesville, Florida, took fourth place in a national science competition based on his work to make it easier to break down hard-to-recycle plastics. Continue Reading
In addition to a mail-in program for its current pods, the company plans to launch plastic-free pods. | Pavel Kapysh/Shutterstock
Keurig plans to launch both a mail-in recycling program for its PP pods and a new line of compostable pods. Continue Reading
The Senate Committee of Environment & Public Works held a hearing on extended producer responsibility for consumer packaging with speakers from the World Wildlife Fund, S. C. Johnson & Son and AMERIPEN. | DeawSS/Shutterstock
Industry representatives from across the plastic chain – as well as an environmental NGO – all told a federal committee that they think federal extended producer responsibility for packaging is worth considering. Continue Reading
Security Matters’s scanning technology uses a chemical-based “hidden barcode” system to identify plastics. | Nagy-Bagoly_Arpad/Shutterstock
A new partnership is working to use digitization technology to better identify plastics with different additives or chemistries.
Agilyx and Americas Styrenics’ 50-50 joint PS recycling venture is closing down. | Courtesy of Agilyx
Agilyx and Americas Styrenics decided to close their joint venture in PS recycling, Regenyx, after five years and 6 million pounds processed.
Unifi recycled 38 billion plastic bottles in 2023. | Don Pablo/Shutterstock
Unifi’s recycled-content fiber line made up 30% of the company’s revenue in 2023, and the textile manufacturer is aiming for 50% in 2025. Continue Reading
Two industry organizations have given more than $1.3 million in grants over the last several months. | Dmitry Demidovich/Shutterstock
In the last several months, the Foodservice Packaging Institute’s Foam Recycling Coalition has given out multiple grants for foam densifiers and the Vinyl Institute awarded nine grants to improve PVC recycling systems. Continue Reading
The report from the Center for Climate Integrity calls for Big Oil and the plastics industry to be held accountable “for their campaign of deception.” | Maryshot/Shutterstock
A new report, “The Fraud of Plastic Recycling,” argues there has been a “decades-long campaign of fraud and deception about the recyclability of plastics.” In response, recycling groups highlighted current plastics diversion successes and technology investments. Continue Reading
A partnership between the city of Phoenix, Arizona State University (ASU), Goodwill of Northern and Central Arizona and Hustle PHX will recycle several hundred tons of PE and PP into local end markets. | Courtesy of Goodwill of Northern and Central Arizona.
For years, recycling collection has focused on centralizing material and processing high volumes. An Arizona project is exploring other options with a micro-factory. Continue Reading