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 are also the editor of the monthly newsletter Policy Now. Heffernan can be contacted at [email protected].
Kevin Kelly, CEO of California-based Emerald Packaging, said his company already internally recycles clear scrap plastics, but needs support to reach its diversion and PCR goals. | Praethip Docekalova/Shutterstock
Post-consumer resin is the way forward, the head of flexible film producer Emerald Packaging said. But it’s going to take commitment, collaboration and follow-through from many different actors to reach full PCR potential.
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So far, 21 states have passed laws classifying chemical recycling as manufacturing rather than waste disposal, changing the emissions laws the processes are subject to. | Rosemarie Mosteller/Shutterstock
Over 70 organizations and businesses signed a letter to New Mexico’s governor last week, asking her not to classify chemical recycling as recycling. Continue Reading
The governor plans to make his recommendations to the Connecticut Legislature during the current legislative session. | Real Window Creative/Shutterstock
Gov. Ned Lamont is looking at extended producer responsibility for packaging, better organics diversion and minimum PCR requirements to help address Connecticut’s waste management woes. Continue Reading
Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft took legal action against materials exporter Golden Trust Trading on March 18, 2022, after the shipping giant said it transported 33 containers of PET, PP and PVC film bales from Vancouver, British Columbia to Bangkok in spring 2019 that were rejected by the Thai government. | John Crux/Shutterstock
A federal judge ruled that a Burnaby, British Columbia company owes an international shipping company $4.3 million Canadian dollars over plastics shipments rejected by the Thai government, the second such suit brought against the company. Continue Reading
Absolut’s original goal was to include 25% recycled plastic in its packaging by 2025; Malibu is currently at 30%. | By Jfanchin/Shutterstock
The Absolut Company is looking at a variety of ways to make its packaging more sustainable, including increasing recycled content and switching to clear PET. Continue Reading
The project, run by Return-It and the American Chemistry Council (ACC), resulted in about 94% usable plastic. | Huguette Roe/Shutterstock
In five months, Washington state residents in the greater Seattle area turned in over 25 tons of film to independent grocery stores as part of a pilot project. Continue Reading
Maine’s EPR draft rules will go to the Board of Environmental Protection to begin the formal rulemaking process in December 2023. | Yurii Prohonnyi/Shutterstock
Maine’s governor signed an extended producer responsibility law for packaging in 2021, and the state is now seeking stakeholder feedback to guide the rulemaking process.
WWF found that 34% of members’ plastic footprint was recycled, 9% incinerated, 43% landfilled and 15% mismanaged. | Kraft74/Shutterstock
In 2021, major brands increased their use of PCR and cut back on “problematic plastics,” but the amount of plastic they put on the market grew by over 5%, according to the World Wildlife Fund.
The Dec. 15 hearing by the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works brought four panelists together to answer questions from legislators. | Katherine Welles/Shutterstock
During a two-hour hearing, U.S. senators questioned industry experts about chemicals in plastics, marine plastic pollution and extended producer responsibility.
More than 130 California cities now have PS bans, including San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland. | Justinboat.29/Shutterstock
Los Angeles banned expanded polystyrene after a unanimous Dec. 6 vote by the 12 city council members present, following the lead of other California cities.