Back to Top

Category: Top stories

Republic Services unveils Indianapolis polymer complex

Published: March 19, 2025
Updated:

by

The hauler has been pre-buying post-consumer bales from across the Midwest for several months for the complex, which features a Polymer Center and the Blue Polymers resin production plant. | Photo courtesy Republic Services

Republic Services officially opened its Indianapolis plastics recycling complex this week, marking the hauler’s entry into the recycled plastic resin market and continuing its expansion from supplying bales to processing and converting the plastics reclaimed within. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , , |

PP bale prices continue northward trek

Published: March 19, 2025
Updated:

by

Polypropylene bale pricing has risen to levels not seen since August 2022, largely attributed to increasing demand for use in food-contact packaging. | Retan/Shutterstock

Post-consumer PP bale pricing has continued to rise in March, reflecting trends in recycled content adoption and potentially encouraging MRFs to sort for the polymer.  Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |

Materials traceability tools add PCR accountability, trust

Published: March 12, 2025
Updated:

by

Traceability tools can act as a scorecard, providing proof that recycling works and helping counter an often one-sided narrative in consumer media outlets. | 9dream Studio/Shutterstock

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

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , , |

Some tariffs suspended, metal duties spur backlash

Published: March 12, 2025
Updated:

by
Cargo containers at a shipping port.

New metal tariffs on imports from all countries into the U.S. spurred quick retaliation from the European Union and Canada. | nattanan726/Shutterstock

The U.S. tariff whirlwind continues this month: Many imports from Canada and Mexico, including those of recycled materials, had their tariffs suspended two days after they took effect last week, while previously announced tariffs on aluminum and steel from all countries are set to take effect Wednesday. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , , |

Scrap plastic from Canada, Mexico subject to tariffs

Published: March 5, 2025
Updated:

by

In 2024, the U.S. imported 393 million pounds of scrap plastic, primarily PET and mixed plastics, from Canada. | Vacancylizm/Shutterstock

Update: Most of the new tariffs on imports from both Mexico and Canada were paused until April 2, following executive orders President Donald Trump signed on March 6.

The Recycled Materials Association warned of potential “severe” disruption to the materials recovery sector after tariffs targeting the U.S.’s largest trading partners took effect March 4, bringing higher costs to import nearly all goods, including recycled commodities. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , , |

Ethics complaint filed in SB 54 back-and-forth

Published: March 5, 2025
Updated:

by
Baled plastics for recycling.

An anonymous complaint asked California’s Fair Political Practices Commission to investigate Rachel Wagoner for a violation of a ban that prevents former regulators from receiving compensation to work against the state on matters that were under their purview. | Zlikovec/Shutterstock

A formal ethics complaint has been lodged against Rachel Wagoner, formerly the director of the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery who is now with producer responsibility organization Circular Action Alliance. The complaint alleges that she is lobbying her former agency in violation of a state “switching sides” ban. Continue Reading

PureCycle maintains price expectations for its R-PP resin

Published: March 5, 2025
Updated:

by
Closeup of plastic resins of various colors.

The company’s flagship plant in Ironton, Ohio, is experiencing fewer and less serious issues, amid rapidly growing interest in the chemically recycled resin. | XXL Photo/Shutterstock

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

Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged |

Oregon is first to approve EPR plan

Published: February 26, 2025
Updated:

by
Oregon capitol building with trees in bloom.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality announced it approved a program plan on Feb. 21. | Yanqiang Dai/Shutterstock

After several years of work, Oregon has approved an extended producer responsibility plan, laying out how packaging producers are expected to fulfill the requirements of the law.   Continue Reading

Chemical recycling projects receive backing

Published: February 26, 2025
Updated:

by
PET bales stacked for recycling.

Three companies announced funding and other progress toward building chemical recycling capacity. | Menzl Guenter/Shutterstock

Several companies recently announced progress toward chemical recycling capacity, including a developing method to recycle PET that could require much less energy. Continue Reading