The U.S. EPA is considering changing the calculation methodology for determining the nation’s recycling rate. | Rokas Tenys/Shutterstock
If a process breaks down scrap plastics into chemicals that are later used to make new plastic, should the federal government consider that “recycling?” What if the end product is a fuel that is combusted?
One million dollars in grants will go to pay for PP sorting equipment and efforts to communicate to households that PP is accepted in their curbside programs. | Courtesy of KW Plastics.
Materials recovery facilities in Minnesota, North Carolina and Texas will receive financial support to enable PP recovery.
Chemical recycling processes are specifically excluded from the definition of “recycling” under the recently introduced Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act. | Andriy Blokhin/Shutterstock
Legislation that makes sweeping changes to the U.S. plastics recycling system generated quick opposition from industry groups, with plastics industry representatives focused on the bill’s treatment of certain materials recovery processes.
California regulators had fined the Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), accusing the stewardship group of failing to improve carpet recycling performance over several years. | optimarc/Shutterstock
A stewardship group will pay over $1 million in penalties for failing to meet California’s carpet recycling requirements, according to state officials.
Money laundering and securities fraud have landed two former plastics recycling executives in federal prison. | Zolnierek/Shutterstock
Two former executives at Lucent Polymers have been sentenced to years in federal prison, after they pleaded guilty to securities fraud and money laundering charges.
Crews remove plastic litter from Hunting Bayou in the Houston area. | Courtesy of Texans for Clean Water
Legislation being considered in Texas would create a program injecting tens of millions of dollars into the recycling system each year while also paying consumers to return plastic bottles, cups and film.
Unilever uses about 118,000 metric tons of plastic packaging in North America each year, half of which is post-consumer resin. | Peter Bueno/Shutterstock
Unilever North America will invest $15 million in the Closed Loop Partners Leadership Fund, a private equity platform that helps grow companies in the recycling value chain.
Legislation to be reintroduced will include provisions for a national bottle bill and a ban on certain single-use plastic items. | S-F/Shutterstock
Two members of Congress will revive the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, which includes a national container deposit system and other sweeping changes. Representatives from the plastics industry have countered the push.
Petoskey Plastics’ McKinney, Texas facility will help the company meet increased demand for its blown film products. | Courtesy of Petoskey Plastics.
Recycled-content film company Petoskey Plastics will expand with a plant in the Dallas area, its fourth U.S. facility.
Globally in 2019, Colgate-Palmolive produced 275,440 metric tons of plastic packaging, of which 7% was PCR. | Courtesy of Colgate-Palmolive.
The Palmolive Ultra brand of dish soap is now using a 100% post-consumer PET bottle in North America.