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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. 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].

Packaging EPR bill re-introduced in Tennessee

Published: January 8, 2025
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Tennessee State Sen. Heidi Campbell is re-introducing a packaging EPR bill crafted to gain Republican and business support. | RebeccaDLev/Shutterstock

Editor’s note: Learn more about policy trends and many other topics at the 2025 Plastics Recycling Conference on March 24-26 in National Harbor, Maryland. 

A Tennessee lawmaker is reintroducing an extended producer responsibility bill for packaging – with some twists, in an attempt to get it through the Republican-controlled Legislature.    Continue Reading

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CA publishes material list, source reduction updates

Published: January 8, 2025
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A recent study in California found that in 2023, 2.9 million tons of plastic were used in single-use packaging and food-related items, made up of 171.4 billion plastic components. | Marina Onokhina/Shutterstock

The recyclability and compostability of materials covered under California’s extended producer responsibility law for packaging got an update recently, as did the baseline for single-use plastic reduction.  Continue Reading

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Bans of some EPS take effect in California, Oregon

Published: January 8, 2025
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Many polystyrene takeout containers in a waste bin.

With the addition of EPS bans in California and Oregon, the entire West Coast now has some level of restriction on the material. | Kittiwat Chaitoep/Shutterstock

As of the first of the year, restrictions on EPS foodware items in California and Oregon are officially in effect.  Continue Reading

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Taking textile recycling mainstream

Published: December 18, 2024
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At the 2024 Resource Recycling Conference, attendees discussed a range of hard-to-recycle materials, including textiles. | RecycleMan/Shutterstock

Policy, partnerships and planning are all crucial components of scaling up textile recycling, stakeholders said during a panel discussion at the 2024 Resource Recycling Conference. Continue Reading

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Canada Plastics Pact reports 2024 progress

Published: December 18, 2024
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About 16% of all plastic packaging in Canada was recycled in 2022, according to the latest data from the Canada Plastics Pact. | Hyotographics/Shutterstock

More plastic film was recycled in Canada in 2022 compared to 2019, but less rigid plastic made it into the system, according to the latest report from Canada Plastics Pact.  Continue Reading

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NERC: Q3 brings small uptick in commodity values

Published: December 18, 2024
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Fiber bales stacked for recycling.

In the third quarter of 2024, the Northeast Recycling Council reported the blended value of a ton, not counting the negative impact of residuals, was $121.21, up 3% from the second quarter of the year. | Nickpeps/Shutterstock

Average commodity prices rose slightly in the third quarter of the year due to national and regional trends, though the growth appears to be cooling off, according to the latest report from the Northeast Recycling Council.  Continue Reading

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Maine board green-lights EPR rules

Published: December 11, 2024
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Under Maine’s EPR program, signed into law in 2021, producers directly reimburse municipalities for collection and recycling of materials. | Yurii Prohonnyi/Shutterstock

Maine approved rules for its extended producer responsibility law for packaging, three years after becoming the first state to pass packaging EPR.  Continue Reading

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Oregon finalizes EPR rulemaking, PRO submits plan

Published: December 11, 2024
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Oregon state capitol building.

The third iteration of Oregon’s program plan had more accurate cost estimates, after Circular Action Alliance carried out a costing survey over the summer. | Nadia Yong/Shutterstock

Oregon moved its rulemaking process ahead for its extended producer responsibility for packaging law set to roll out next summer, and Circular Action Alliance also released its third program plan draft.  Continue Reading

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Coca-Cola ‘evolves’ sustainability goals, timelines

Published: December 4, 2024
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Coca Cola bottles wrapped in plastic at a wholesale market.

The Coca‑Cola Company eliminated its goals around reusable packaging and virgin plastic reduction. | StudioPortoSabbia/Shutterstock

The Coca‑Cola Company has rolled back its voluntary sustainability goals, decreasing some and eliminating others, following the growing number of big brands announcing they will not meet often-ambitious 2025 or 2030 targets. 

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Global treaty talks extended after hitting typical roadblocks

Published: December 4, 2024
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On Nov. 27, the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum on Plastics demanded the right to speak at plenary sessions, after being denied the usual time allotted for civil society members to share their views. | Kiara Worth/International Institute for Sustainable Development

Negotiations for a global, legally-binding treaty to address plastic pollution will spill over into another meeting, but participants noted the need for a seismic shift to reach the finish line after a fifth round of United Nations negotiations splintered along similar lines as the last four. 

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