Rumpke’s new Columbus, Ohio MRF is key to a partnership with Eastman Chemical that will create an end market for opaque PET materials, among other hard-to-recycle products. | Courtesy of Rumpke
A partnership between midwest recycling processor Rumpke and resin giant Eastman Chemical will create an end market for opaque and otherwise hard-to-recycle PET materials, driven by state-of-the-art sortation capabilities at Rumpke’s Columbus, Ohio MRF.
Security Matters’s scanning technology uses a chemical-based “hidden barcode” system to identify plastics. | Nagy-Bagoly_Arpad/Shutterstock
A new partnership is working to use digitization technology to better identify plastics with different additives or chemistries.
Richard Chapman/Shutterstock
Last month, readers took interest in a project to recycle marine debris in Hawai’i, the evolution of a robotics supplier, a Texas chemical recycling venture and more.
The bill passed the state Senate 21-13 on Feb. 6 entirely on party lines, the House 76-56 on Feb. 15, and was chaptered into law on March 5. | Yurii-Prohonnyi/Shutterstock
Although there are no chemical recycling facilities currently operating in the Pine Tree State, any starting up in the future will be considered “chemical plastic processing” operations subject to solid waste facility permitting, and their process will not be considered “recycling,” lawmakers recently voted.
Agilyx and Americas Styrenics’ 50-50 joint PS recycling venture is closing down. | Courtesy of Agilyx
Agilyx and Americas Styrenics decided to close their joint venture in PS recycling, Regenyx, after five years and 6 million pounds processed.
Unifi recycled 38 billion plastic bottles in 2023. | Don Pablo/Shutterstock
Unifi’s recycled-content fiber line made up 30% of the company’s revenue in 2023, and the textile manufacturer is aiming for 50% in 2025. Continue Reading
Two industry organizations have given more than $1.3 million in grants over the last several months. | Dmitry Demidovich/Shutterstock
In the last several months, the Foodservice Packaging Institute’s Foam Recycling Coalition has given out multiple grants for foam densifiers and the Vinyl Institute awarded nine grants to improve PVC recycling systems. Continue Reading
Pregis is using ExxonMobil’s Exxtend resin from its Baytown, Texas, facility in foam packaging. | Courtesy of Pregis
U.S. packaging supplier Pregis North America has begun producing a polyethylene foam that incorporates resin sourced from ExxonMobil’s chemical recycling operations. Continue Reading
Trex reported $1.1 billion in consolidated sales in 2023 and year-over-year residential sales increased by $35 million in 2023. | Vojtaz/Shutterstock
Trex, one of the largest polyethylene film recycling companies in the U.S., recorded higher sales in 2023, particularly towards the end of the year. Company leaders anticipate the sales growth will continue into 2024, translating to strong end market demand for recovered film. Continue Reading