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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].

Study: Tailored changes needed for urban circularity

Published: August 29, 2023
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Plastic waste pile

Researchers at The Circulate Initiative identified several common challenges that cities face when dealing with plastic waste. | Mohamed Abdulraheem/Shutterstock

Research recently undertaken by several groups dug into how individual cities in ocean plastic hot spots are approaching materials management. Continue Reading

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Industry group calls for PCR quality standards

Published: August 1, 2023
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The Alliance to End Plastic Waste argues that consistent specifications for quality material will help drive investment in sorting and collection technology. | Fabrika Simf/Shutterstock

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste suggested the recycling industry in the European Union develop target specifications for processed materials to ease the transition to a circular economy. Continue Reading

Building programs with racial and social equity

Published: August 22, 2023
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Moderator Kevin Goolsby of The Recycling Partnership speaks with panelists (L-R) Sophia Hosain of Baltimore Public Works, Jessica Levine of The Recycling Partnership, Priscilla Pruna Boada of the city of Orlando, and Digna Rivera-Reyes of the city of Orlando. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling, Inc.

An inclusive and equitable recycling program is a complicated but necessary undertaking. Industry experts recently offered tips on how to get there. Continue Reading

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Building material offers new end market for recyclables

Published: August 22, 2023
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Before commercializing its fire- and mold-resistant construction board, Xeriant plans to secure financing and expand its production capabilities. | Courtesy of Xeriant

Material development company Xeriant is putting the finishing touches on its recycled composite construction panel, which it hopes will “disrupt” the building industry.  Continue Reading

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Using eco-modulation to revive eco-design

Published: August 22, 2023
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Researcher Reid Lifset sees a lack of good data as a major barrier to eco-modulation achieving its full potential. | Marko Rupena/Shutterstock

Reid Lifset, a longtime member of the faculty at the Yale School of the Environment, wrote the first peer-reviewed academic article on extended producer responsibility in 1993. He’s “been intrigued by it and studying it ever since.” In an interview with Resource Recycling, he talked about his latest research article on eco-modulation and his thoughts on best practices for using eco-modulation to drive eco-design in packaging. 

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Comments to EPA emphasize standardization

Published: August 8, 2023
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Plastics littering a beach in Malaysia.

Many responses from environmental groups focused on the need for the U.S. EPA’s National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution to rein in the generation of new plastics. | Rich Carey/Shutterstock

The U.S. EPA asked for input on its draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, and recycling industry stakeholders have answered.  Continue Reading

White House shares new sustainable procurement rule

Published: August 8, 2023
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A federal purchasing rule handed down last week directs agencies to buy sustainable products and avoid those that contain PFAS. | Petrmalinak/Shutterstock

The federal government has announced plans to further prioritize American-made sustainable products and services in its purchasing, including recycled content. Continue Reading

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Canada issues grant to develop PPE recycling

Published: August 8, 2023
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Vitacore Industries is among a handful of companies that will receive money from the Canadian government to scale up their technology. | Faizzamal/Shutterstock

Vitacore Industries, a personal protective equipment manufacturer, received 4.18 million Canadian dollars (about $3.17 million) to develop a facility to recycle discarded PPE into building materials.  Continue Reading

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