So far, 20 states have passed laws in the past few years to regulate chemical recycling as manufacturing. | JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock
In a letter to the EPA, 35 members of Congress urged the federal department to continue to regulate chemical recycling as combustion, not manufacturing, under the Clean Air Act.
An automated sorting system uses AI to continuously reprogram itself to remove different materials. | Courtesy of BHS
An autonomous system developed by Bulk Handling Systems is really more of a sorting loop than a sorting line.
PepsiCo is increasing its use of 100% RPET bottles in several markets. | SunnyToys/Shutterstock
PepsiCo announced new objectives and shared its progress toward circular packaging targets in its 2021 environmental, social and governance report. Continue Reading
Nexus is planning a facility near Chicago, and Braskem pledged to purchase the output. | Courtesy of Nexus Circular
Nexus Circular plans to build a pyrolysis plant in the Chicago area, and polyolefins producer Braskem has signed an agreement to buy the facility’s output. Continue Reading
Berry brand owner Driscoll’s has worked with its clamshell suppliers to boost the percentage of RPET derived from used thermoforms. | Courtesy of Driscoll’s
Clamshell containers used by berry brand Driscoll’s last year contained an average of 9% RPET sourced from used thermoforms. Continue Reading
New legislation evokes varied reactions among industry and activists. | Michael Warwick/Shutterstock
Industry leaders mostly expressed support for California’s recently signed extended producer responsibility bill, though some said they still had concerns about its far reach. Continue Reading
A digital rendering of the planned Circularix facility | Courtesy of Circularix
The former head of bankrupt reclaimer CarbonLite is launching another company, betting that virgin and RPET pricing will continue to de-couple as brands search for recycled plastic. Continue Reading
New developments in film and resin technology advance efficiency and circularity goals. | Alex Traksel/Shutterstock
Several companies have released new products that are pushing plastics recycling forward, including PCR-specific additives and 83% recycled content films. Here’s a roundup of innovation news. Continue Reading
Legislators have approved EPR for printed paper and packaging in California. | Kit Leong/Shutterstock
This story has been updated.
California’s printed paper and packaging extended producer responsibility bill passed the state Senate unanimously June 30 and was signed into law, just before the deadline to pull a plastic-tax measure from November’s state ballot.
Connecticut students collected nearly 4 tons of bottle caps for recycling through a collaborative effort. | Courtesy of SoundWaters
Connecticut middle school students, with help from processor UltraPoly and other entities, recently collected 2.5 million plastic caps and recycled them into end products as part of a lesson on microplastics.