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How a startup will track scrap plastic shipments

Published: March 23, 2022
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Bill Robberson, president and chief technology officer for Kamilo, Inc.

Bill Robberson, president and chief technology officer for Kamilo, Inc., presented during a plenary session focused on greenhouse gas emissions at the 2022 Plastics Recycling Conference. | Brian Adams Photo

The U.S. EPA has provided funding to Kamilo, Inc., which uses technology to monitor material moving through the recycling chain, with a goal of increasing the value of recycled resins.

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How private equity has boosted various links in value chain

Published: March 16, 2022
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Greg Johnson, Evergreen’s general manager of resin and recycling, presents at the Plastics Recycling Conference last week. | Brian Adams Photography

When private equity fund The Sterling Group acquired Evergreen, staff at the PET reclaimer were nervous, Greg Johnson included.

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Conference panelists outline state of plastics recycling policy

Published: March 7, 2022
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David Biderman, far right, addresses the audience at the 2022 Plastics Recycling Conference | Brian Adams Photo

Interest in minimum-recycled-content mandates and extended producer responsibility bills is at an all-time high, but the reality of passing legislation is more complicated, according to industry experts.

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UN plastics treaty vote sparks support

Published: March 7, 2022
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United Nations flag flying against blue sky and clouds.

The United Nations Environment Assembly on March 2 voted to start a process that would create a global plastics pollution treaty, bringing a final treaty forward for a vote in 2024. | Doug McLean/Shutterstock

A recent U.N. agreement to create a treaty on plastic pollution has brought recycling, waste and producer responsibility issues into the mainstream discussion.

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Mixed bale processor adds facility in western Canada

Published: March 2, 2022
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Pellet produced from recycled plastic by EFS-plastics.

EFS-plastics will open a second facility to expand recycling capacity while keeping the company’s carbon footprint as low as possible. | Courtesy of EFS-plastics

Driven by demand for polypropylene and polyethylene, plastics recycler EFS-plastics is opening a processing site in Lethbridge, Alberta.

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Keurig agrees to $10 million settlement, recycling disclaimer

Published: March 2, 2022
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Court gavel resting on a folio on a desk.

As part of the settlement, Keurig cannot label, market, advertise or otherwise represent the cups as recyclable without a qualifying statement that the materials are not recycled in many communities.  | zimmytws/Shutterstock

Keurig Green Mountain reached a class-action settlement with a consumer who sued over coffee pod recyclability claims, agreeing to pay $10 million and add language indicating the plastic cups are “not recycled in many communities.”

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Republic Services moves to vertically integrate in plastics

Published: March 1, 2022
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Plastics processing in Republic's Las Vegas recycling facility.

Plastics being handled at Republic Services’ existing materials recovery facility (MRF) in North Las Vegas, Nev. The company’s Polymer Center will be sited seven miles from the MRF. | Courtesy of Republic Services

North America’s second-largest hauler and recycling processor is constructing a facility in Las Vegas that will produce recycled PET flake and provide a deeper sort of recovered olefins.

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OECD: Global support for plastics recycling needed

Published: February 23, 2022
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OECD logo on building exterior.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) issued its first Global Plastics Outlook report. | 360b/Shutterstock

A global body estimates production of recycled plastics has quadrupled over the past two-plus decades, but recycled resins still make up only 6% of total plastic production.

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