Back to Top

Category: Top stories

Texas plant in limbo after Eastman loses DOE grant

Published: May 30, 2025
Updated:

by

The $375 million grant represented about one-third of the required funding for the company’s second U.S. chemical recycling plant. The operational Kingsport, Tennessee facility is pictured. | Photo Courtesy of Eastman

Tennessee-based Eastman has lost its $375 million federal grant, which previously had spurred the company to make a final investment decision on its second U.S. methanolysis plant, located in Texas. 

Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |

Groups add nuance to policy position on chemical recycling

Published: June 4, 2025
Updated:

by

Industry groups are working to define their position on the complex technologies included in the broad and ill-defined sector of chemical recycling. | Extarz/Shutterstock

In recent weeks, two U.S. recycling organizations have released policy positions on chemical recycling. But questions remain for the often controversial recycling methods included in the umbrella term of chemical recycling, also known as molecular or advanced recycling.  Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged |

Alpek closing North Carolina PET plant

Published: June 4, 2025
Updated:

by

The Fayetteville site is the company’s second U.S. PET plant to close in less than two years. | Aykut Erdogdu/Shutterstock

Major PET producer Alpek is closing a North Carolina plant that includes both virgin and RPET production, with operations to cease by July 31.

Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged |

Financing, uncertainty feed EU recycler bankruptcies

Published: May 29, 2025
Updated:

by

Despite sweeping legislative mandates that would seem to result in stronger demand for recycled content, Europe has seen its own share of hurdles to PCR adoptions. | Ugis Riba/Shutterstock

While delays and court setbacks have provided a temporary and tenuous reprieve from President Donald Trump’s market-disrupting tariffs, the European recycling sector continues to struggle with a rash of bankruptcies, most filed months before the trade war even began.
Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |

Brightmark bankruptcy: Parent company wins auction bid

Published: May 29, 2025
Updated:

by

A judge favored Brightmark’s parent company over a slightly higher bid, preferring Brightmark’s plan to keep the facility operating over the competing bid’s liquidation plan. | Photo courtesy of Brightmark

Brightmark’s bankrupt Indiana pyrolysis facility has been sold to parent company Brightmark for $14.3 million in a move that will keep the facility operating and retain most or all of its more than 100 employees, a judge ruled this month. The latest development came after a competitive auction process with plenty of twists and turns.
Continue Reading

SB 54 draft regulations elicit ample feedback

Published: May 29, 2025
Updated:

by

In March, California Gov. Gavin Newsom rejected SB 54 draft regulations, forcing the rulemaking process to restart. | Brandon Bourdages/Shutterstock

The first public opportunity to comment on California’s latest extended producer responsibility for packaging draft regulations stretched past the allotted time frame, with some speakers saying changes to a chemical recycling regulation section were unlawful.  Continue Reading

Bale pricing bucks seasonal trend, trade alliances shift

Published: May 21, 2025
Updated:

by

Foreign trade partners see risk as well as opportunity amid tariff-related chaos, market sources said. | Alones/Shutterstock

This story has been corrected.

Post-consumer plastics bales are defying typical springtime trends, with average pricing in May reported flat-to-softer on the month as the peak summer season nears. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , , |

PakTech prepares for benefits, challenges under EPR

Published: May 21, 2025
Updated:

by

PakTech uses injection molding equipment and blow-molding-grade material, as well as modular equipment designs, for cost and speed efficiency. | Marissa Heffernan/Resource Recycling

Extended producer responsibility programs, labeling requirements and minimum PCR mandates offer both challenges and opportunities, and company leaders at 100% PCR packaging manufacturer PakTech have been steadily working to position the company for the future. Continue Reading

Industry nuance is key in adopting emerging technology

Published: May 21, 2025
Updated:

by

A technology-focused panel at ReMA’s 2025 conference featured Blake Gordon of Georgia-Pacific Recycling, Lisa Kagan of Buddy and Geoff Aardsma of AMCS, and was moderated by Jennifer Betts of Magnar Metals. | Photo by Colin Staub / Resource Recycling

For Blake Gordon, general manager of digital trading at Georgia-Pacific Recycling, defining next-generation technology can be boiled down to a simple question: Does it simplify something that is unnecessarily complex? If so, it’s next-gen. Continue Reading

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged , |