Marissa 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].
Automation using AI, optical sorters and robotics can also help reduce compliance costs and improve revenue, AMP representatives said in a recent webinar. | Jantsarik/Shutterstock
MRFs looking to improve their profit and loss should consider automation, AMP representatives said in the third installment of the AMP Live Talks webinar series. Continue Reading
Rebound members can now trade more recycled materials on the platform, including plastics, metal, glass, OCC and e-scrap. | New Africa/Shutterstock
After starting in plastics, an online recycled material trading platform is expanding into glass, metal, rubber, OCC and paper and will soon add e-scrap. Continue Reading
About 30,000 tons of biopharma single-use plastic is disposed of every year globally, representing a unique opportunity for closed-loop recycling, some in the industry say. | Elpisterra/Shutterstock
The medical and research fields hold great potential for closed-loop plastic recycling as long as logistics can be solved, some in the industry recently said – and several companies are working to do just that. Continue Reading
Amazon announced it has removed all plastic air pillows from delivery packaging at its global fulfillment centers, replacing them with paper filler. | Photo courtesy of Amazon
Online e-commerce giant Amazon released an update on its sustainability goals, announcing it has hit its goal of replacing plastic air pillows with paper filler throughout North America.
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery on Oct. 14 opened a 15-day written comment period on permanent regulations for the state’s EPR program. | Susanne Pommer/Shutterstock
Producers, recyclers and the public have another chance to comment on California’s SB 54 extended producer responsibility for packaging permanent regulations.
California lawmakers overhauled the state’s troubled carpet recycling program. | optimarc/Shutterstock
Carpet recovery and recycling in California will soon look a little different, after the signing of a new law that will change the recycling rate calculation and emphasize carpet-to-carpet content.
California’s extended producer responsibility for packaging law requires EPS food serviceware and packaging to demonstrate a recycling rate of no less than 25% by Jan. 1. | Justinboat.29/Shutterstock
Expanded polystyrene food serviceware producers have only a few months left to prove that the material has a recycling rate of at least 25% in California or face the prohibition of selling into the state.
The law covers a wide range of clothing but excludes carpet and mattresses, which are covered by other EPR programs in California. | Natali-Ximich/Shutterstock
California has become the first state to approve extended producer responsibility for textiles, after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation enacting the program.
The new How2Recycle Plus label will include a QR code to provide more detailed recycling acceptance information. | Dan Leif/Resource Recycling, Inc.
How2Recycle has announced new looks and capabilities for its labels, including the ability to scan a QR code and access The Recycling Partnership’s Recycle Check data.
On Sept. 22, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1053, which extends the state’s plastic bag ban to cover thicker plastic bags previously considered reusable. | Kit Leong/Shutterstock
Several big recycling updates came out of the Golden State this weekend, including new policy, a lawsuit challenging ExxonMobil’s chemical recycling claims and an update about carpet recycling rates. Continue Reading