A recently introduced joint resolution in California calls on the Biden administration to ratify the Basel Convention. | cmshepard/Shutterstock
A California legislator says U.S. ratification of the Basel Convention would build up domestic processing infrastructure, reduce negative impacts from exports, and create jobs in this country. At least one large reclaimer supports the move.
Bales of curbside plastics have experienced notable price increases this month, with natural HDPE again hitting a record high.
U.S. exports of recovered plastic were up slightly in January 2021 compared to the previous year. | anek.soowannaphoom/Shutterstock
Exports of U.S. scrap plastic increased in January 2021 compared with 2020, despite new Basel Convention regulations on plastic shipments.
The FDA issued a number of approvals for recycling technologies to produce recycled resin for use in food and beverage packaging. | Funtap/Shutterstock
The Food and Drug Administration issued a slew of letters giving reclaimers the green light to produce recycled resin for use in food and drink packaging last year.
CarbonLite operates recycling facilities that bring in PET bales from deposit and curbside sources.
PET recycling firm CarbonLite and a subsidiary this week filed for bankruptcy, indicating the company plans to reorganize and continue operating. A company leader said market strife and COVID-19 impacts led to the decision.
The REMADE Institute issued funding to projects exploring a variety of plastics recycling technologies. | Olivier Le Queinec/Shutterstock
A federal initiative focused on energy efficiency in U.S. manufacturing recently selected more than a dozen plastics recycling projects to support. They include efforts advancing PET recovery, mixed-plastics processing, chemical recycling and more.
Indorama noted it has recycling expansion projects in the works that will grow the company’s PET recycling capacity by roughly 600,000 metric tons per year. | Pavel Kapysh/Shutterstock
Global resin producer Indorama Ventures plans to continue its expansion in the PET recycling sector this year, the company recently announced in financial filings.
PreZero framed the acquisition as a way to guarantee a viable end market for the post-consumer resin it produces. | REDPIXEL.PL/Shutterstock
PreZero US, a growing mixed-plastics recycling company, has entered the end use sector with its acquisition of Roplast Industries, a longtime processor and bag manufacturer.
A number of environmental groups wrote to shipping lines urging them to stop carrying scrap plastics. | Jordi Prats/Shutterstock
Activists have contacted the world’s largest shipping lines, asking them to stop carrying loads that violate new Basel Convention regulations covering the global scrap plastic trade.
The author argues that post-industrial plastics recycling yields important environmental benefits and can help overcome challenges in post-consumer plastics recycling. | mofaez/Shutterstock