The Plastic Back process separates carbon and chlorine from discarded PVC, and the pilot plant will be sited at Freepoint Eco-Systems’ site in Hebron, Ohio. | Photo courtesy Plastic Back
Plastic Back, an Israeli startup, is taking a major step toward solving one of the toughest challenges in plastics recycling: recovering value from mixed plastic waste that includes PVC.
More than 100 recycling stakeholders urged the European Commission to address unfavorable market economics, a scenario that provides foresight into what may occur in North America. | NGCHIYUI / Shutterstock
More than 100 recyclers issued a call, coordinated by a Dutch consultancy, for the European Commission to take immediate action in addressing the causes of the current industry crisis – itself a window into what may await the North American recycling sector.
In its pursuit to advance food-grade recycled PP, the NextLoopp initiative is finding progress slower in the States, but still moving forward. | Meaw_stocker / Shutterstock
The Americas branch of a European initiative to advance incorporation of food-grade PP resin has achieved several initial milestones in recent weeks, though progress is slower than in Europe, according to the group’s president.
As the overall recycling sector struggles, plastic film stakeholders are bearing the brunt of the industry’s challenges. | Dmitry Markov152/Shutterstock
Editor’s note: Some industry sources for this story were granted anonymity due to the sensitive nature of market relationships.
Key takeaways
Two weeks after the closure of WM’s plastic film recycling operations, market players have been left to process what the development means for the overall industry.
Despite noting positive action, the foundation warns that the pace of change still falls far short of what’s needed, with 80% of the market yet to act meaningfully. | Meaw_stocker/Shutterstock
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has unveiled its Global Commitment 2025 Progress Report alongside the new 2030 Plastics Agenda for Business, a sweeping roadmap to transform how the world makes, uses and reuses plastics. Continue Reading
In recent quarterly investor calls, several major PE producers provided a survey of the current landscape for virgin resin and gave a glimpse at what the near future may hold. | Richard Frazier/Shutterstock
Key takeaways
For the past three years, virgin PE resin has caused severe headaches for North American recyclers who are unable to compete with pricing pushed down by vast oversupply amid a steady stream of new capacity amid lower-than-expected demand. Continue Reading
In a statement, the company called the closure of the plastic film processing plant temporary, amid challenging macroeconomic conditions. | Courtesy of Natura PCR
Hauler WM has shuttered its Natura PCR plastic film processing operations in Texas only months after starting up a new $150 million plant, amid lackluster market conditions.
Dissolution recycling processes leave a polymer structure intact, and belong in the physical recycling category along with mechanical recycling, Plastics Recyclers Europe said. | Rene Notenbomer/Shutterstock
Industry association Plastics Recyclers Europe is looking to raise the profile of dissolution recycling, an often-overlooked process that doesn’t quite fit into common recycling categories. Continue Reading
The RecycleOn Oregon center opened this month in Ashland, the first of 140 planned for the state, in line with the state’s EPR law mandates. | Courtesy RecycleOn
Hard-to-recycle materials may soon find a new use in Oregon thanks to a first-of-its-kind recycling center now open there.
PackUK has begun issuing the first EPR invoices to packaging producers, outlining payment rules, penalties and next steps toward modulated recyclability fees. |
Tartezy / Shutterstock
The administrator for the UK’s extended producer responsibility program for packaging has issued its first invoices to packaging producers, marking the start of a major shift in how household packaging waste is funded.