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Category: News

Experts: Plastic-to-paper switch brings complications

Published: April 3, 2024
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A panel at last week’s Plastics Recycling Conference dug into the question: “The Switch to Paper Packaging: Fad or New Norm?” | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling Inc.

Paper is on the march against plastic, taking its place in several forms of protective packaging, food wrappers, beverage containers and bread bag clips as manufacturers pivot to a more commonly recycled, and seemingly more sustainable, material.  Continue Reading

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Top stories from March 2024

Published: April 3, 2024
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Amazon Prime plastic bubble shipping mailer.

Oasisamuel/Shutterstock

A project that tracked plastic packaging dropped off in retail collection sites was our top-read story last month, joined by coverage of a chemical recycling supply agreement, bale markets, the Plastics Recycling Conference and more.

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Less plastic recovered in 2022, but more stayed domestic

Published: April 3, 2024
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Plastic waste pile

A drop in overall plastics collection contributed to a decline in the annual bottle recycling rate, which decreased to 27.8% in 2022. | Mohamed Abdulraheem/Shutterstock

Just over 5 billion pounds of post-consumer plastic was recovered for recycling in 2022, an annual industry report found, marking a decrease from the prior year. One trade association pointed to macroeconomic factors like inflation as driving the lower recovery. Continue Reading

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Eastman sites second chemical recycling facility

Published: March 26, 2024
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The new facility will have the capacity to recycle approximately 110,000 metric tons annually. | Mr_Mrs_Marcha/Shutterstock

Eastman is planning to build its second chemical recycling facility in Longview, Texas, and the U.S. Department of Energy will grant the project up to $375 million, the company recently announced.  Continue Reading

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Panel digs into intersection of design, recyclability

Published: March 26, 2024
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The first day of the annual Plastics Recycling Conference covered the state of the industry and the ways that recycling can improve with better packaging design and stakeholder collaboration. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling

Plastic packaging could be designed for recycling from the start, rather than squeezed haphazardly into recycling systems after the fact, with greater collaboration and stakeholder involvement along the entire value chain, several speakers said Monday at the Plastics Recycling Conference in Grapevine, Texas.  Continue Reading

RPET imports driving ‘perfect storm’ for reclaimers

Published: March 26, 2024
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PET bale for recycling.

In January 2024, the U.S. imported 52.5 million pounds of scrap PET, over double the amount imported into the country in January 2023. | MarieKaz/Shutterstock

Scrap PET imports reached an all-time single-month record high in January, coming on the heels of a year that brought record-high imports of the post-consumer resin.  Continue Reading

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Plastics Recycling Conference dives into industry trends

Published: March 26, 2024
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The 2024 Plastics Recycling Conference brought 2,500 attendees together for sessions and a sold-out exhibit hall of more than 240 booths. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling

The 2024 Plastics Recycling Conference kicked off Monday in Grapevine, Texas, bringing energetic conversations around policy, investments and designing for recyclability.  Continue Reading

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