Pierre Benabides, technical advisor for the Circular Action Alliance, explained responsible end market verification and next steps during the APR fall member meeting. | DOERS/Shutterstock
Circular Action Alliance, which has emerged as the primary U.S. packaging producer responsibility organization, aims to increase PCR utilization with strategies including verification of responsible end markets, according to the organization’s technical advisor. Continue Reading
The CEO of Trex said the composite lumber company will supplant external resin purchases with pellets from its new Arkansas facility. | Photo Courtesy of Trex
Although the new Trex composite lumber plant in Arkansas will not start production until 2027, the company’s recycling facility will begin processing post-consumer plastic film in early 2025, the CEO said during a quarterly earnings call. Continue Reading
The Houston-based chemicals powerhouse has been pursuing an aggressive strategy as it shifts focus toward circularity. | JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock
Chemical majors LyondellBasell and Chevron Phillips Chemical have invested an undisclosed amount in recycling technology company Alterra to help commercialize chemical recycling technology for plastics. Continue Reading
Researchers from varied backgrounds published a paper that aims to facilitate conversations between various stakeholders in plastics recycling. | FabrikaSimf/Shutterstock
A group of researchers hopes to foster discussion and cooperation throughout the plastics value chain with their recent paper in the scientific journal Nature.
Finland-based Specim offers a mid-wave infrared imaging that it says can provide more nuanced sorting of black plastics. | Courtesy of Specim
Black plastics are difficult to recycle due to their light-absorbing properties, which interfere with optical sensors at MRFs. But Finland-based Specim says it has a solution. Continue Reading
Panelists at the 2024 E-Scrap Conference provided insight into issues facing e-plastics, and their views on what lies ahead. | Big Wave Productions/Resource Recycling
With domestic demand building slowly, U.S. processors must look to industries outside electronics manufacturing to absorb their e-plastics volumes, according to panelists at the recent E-Scrap Conference in Orlando. Continue Reading
About 30,000 tons of biopharma single-use plastic is disposed of every year globally, representing a unique opportunity for closed-loop recycling, some in the industry say. | Elpisterra/Shutterstock
The medical and research fields hold great potential for closed-loop plastic recycling as long as logistics can be solved, some in the industry recently said – and several companies are working to do just that. Continue Reading
The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery on Oct. 14 opened a 15-day written comment period on permanent regulations for the state’s EPR program. | Susanne Pommer/Shutterstock
Producers, recyclers and the public have another chance to comment on California’s SB 54 extended producer responsibility for packaging permanent regulations.
Prices for curbside plastics bales saw varying trends for October, with PP and natural HDPE rising 33% and 11%, respectively, but PET and color HDPE saw modest declines. 
California lawmakers overhauled the state’s troubled carpet recycling program. | optimarc/Shutterstock
Carpet recovery and recycling in California will soon look a little different, after the signing of a new law that will change the recycling rate calculation and emphasize carpet-to-carpet content.