Despite a three-year downturn, Dow and others are starting up vast new capacity for virgin PE resin, exacerbating the disadvantage for recycled HDPE. | Richard Frazier/Shutterstock
Despite being entrenched in what the CEO described as “one of the longest downturns our industry has experienced,” chemical and polymer company Dow has started up new virgin PE resin capacity geared toward packaging for food and for health and hygiene, executives said during a quarterly investor call. Continue Reading
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa takes notes during a July 16 U.S. House hearing discussing improvements to the recycling industry. | Photo courtesy U.S. House of Representatives
Two new policy proposals seeking to improve components of the U.S. recycling system came up during a Congressional hearing last week, and industry stakeholders offered their thoughts on how the federal government can best support the recycling sector. Continue Reading
As brand owners face the realities of their 2025 voluntary sustainability targets, report author Jim Owen of RaboResearch predicts that recycled-content goals will become more pragmatic and lean more heavily on legislation. | Photka/Shutterstock
A new report from RaboResearch explores the factors behind brand owners’ retreat from 2025 packaging recycled content goals – and provides a look at the path ahead. Continue Reading
CalRecycle held a public workshop on California’s textiles EPR law to outline the future of its implementation and allow businesses and industry groups to comment on the effects of the law. | Vejo/Shutterstock
Business owners, potential producer responsibility organizations and industry experts gathered virtually and in person last week to ask California regulators questions about the state’s recently passed textile EPR law and give input on its implementation. Continue Reading
The Recycling Partnership’s Polypropylene Recycling Coalition has helped upgrade the polypropylene recycling system of a MRF in St. Peters, Missouri. | CalypsoArt/Shutterstock
Recycle City MRF in St. Peters, Missouri, has expanded its PP recycling abilities with upgrades made possible by The Recycling Partnership’s Polypropylene Recycling Coalition. Continue Reading
Resin imports are creating a challenging market for California reclaimers. | Saravutpics/Shutterstock
Amid a spike in post-consumer resin imports that reclaimers say is damaging the U.S. plastics recycling system, and allegations that some of that imported resin may not truly be recycled, a bill advancing in California would require beverage container manufacturers to report the country of origin for all PCR incorporated in their products. Continue Reading
The Otsego ReUse Center in Oneota, New York, collects film recycling through the Grassroots Movement, an initiative by film recycler NexTrex. | Photo courtesy of NexTrex.
Recycling collection site Otsego ReUse Center is bringing plastic film recycling to New York, with help from the Grassroots Movement initiative by film collector NexTrex. Continue Reading
Fahroni/Shutterstock
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a monthly PCR resin pricing analysis contributed by commodity intelligence firm ICIS. Continue Reading