Tag Archives: California

Ahead of mandate, beverage brands disclose RPET stats

Published: April 20, 2022
Updated: April 21, 2022
by Jared Paben

The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) on April 14 released 2021 data on virgin and recycled plastic usage in beverage containers covered by the state’s deposit law. | Pazargic Liviu/Shutterstock

This story has been corrected.

Numbers for 2021 show some big beverage brands were ahead of the game when it comes to complying with California’s recycled-content law, including BlueTriton Brands, Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo. Others remained far short of the targets set by the state.

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged brand owners, California, markets, PET, regulation/oversight |

Recology steps back from much-watched plastics ballot measure

Published: January 12, 2022
Updated: January 12, 2022
by Jared Paben

Recology contributed millions of dollars toward signature-collection efforts, which succeeded in bringing a measure to voters in California. | Tada Images/Shutterstock

After bankrolling a successful effort to qualify a plastics-fee measure for California’s 2022 general election, hauler and recycling processor Recology has forgiven $2.75 million in loans and will distance itself from the push, according to state records and the company.

Posted in News | Tagged California, legislation |

Canadian officials force Keurig to change recycling instructions

Published: January 12, 2022
Updated: January 12, 2022
by Jared Paben

Boxes of Keurig products marketing pod recyclability.

Keurig Canada said the company is continuing to work with municipalities and the recycling industry to increase K-Cup pod recycling acceptance. | ZikG/Shutterstock

Keurig Canada will pay millions of dollars in penalties and alter its coffee pod recyclability claims, as part of a legal settlement with Canadian regulators.

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged California |

State to reward recycling facilities for ultra-clean PET

Published: December 15, 2021
Updated: December 15, 2021
by Jared Paben

California regulators will provide incentive payments to curbside recycling programs producing PET bales with less than 2% contamination. | RecycleMan/Shutterstock

California officials will provide payments of up to $180 per ton to recycling facilities that limit contamination in PET bales to 2% or less.

Posted in News | Tagged California, PET |

Greenpeace and Walmart continue renewed legal battle

Published: December 15, 2021
Updated: December 15, 2021
by Colin Staub

The Greenpeace lawsuit focuses on Walmart’s use of the How2Recycle label on certain of the company’s private label plastic packaging. | QualityHD/Shutterstock

A lawsuit alleging Walmart deceives customers about recyclability of its packaging has been reopened. Attorneys for Greenpeace expect their complaint, which was previously dismissed by a federal judge, will be allowed to move forward in its amended form.

Posted in News | Tagged brand owners, California, courts/lawsuits |

California governor signs labeling and exports bills

Published: October 6, 2021
Updated: October 6, 2021
by Colin Staub

In a statement, Newsom said the bills will raise consumer awareness and promote industry accountability. | Jana Asenbrennerova / Shutterstock

A high-profile bill restricting the use of recyclability labeling on products in California was signed into law this week. Gov. Gavin Newsom also signed legislation classifying mixed-plastic exports out of the state as “disposal.”

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged California, legislation |

California data shows PCR backsliding among major brands

Published: September 29, 2021
Updated: September 29, 2021
by Jared Paben

Data from California shows some major beverage producers used lower percentages of post-consumer resin in 2020 than they did in 2019. | tezzstock / Shutterstock

The clock is ticking on California’s law mandating recycled plastic in drink bottles, and some beverage producers still have a long way to go, newly released data reveals.

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged brand owners, California, legislation, PET |

Judge ends Greenpeace’s labeling suit against Walmart

Published: September 22, 2021
Updated: September 28, 2021
by Colin Staub

A U.S. District Court judge ruled that Greenpeace lacked standing to sue the world’s largest retailer over recyclability labeling in California. | Harun Ozmen / Shutterstock

A California court has dismissed a legal complaint Greenpeace brought against Walmart, ruling that the activist group itself was not deceived by labels indicating the corporation’s plastic packaging is recyclable.

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged brand owners, California, courts/lawsuits |

Group reports 21% carpet recycling rate in California

Published: September 22, 2021
Updated: September 23, 2021
by Jared Paben

Old carpet pieces rolled up for recycling.

CARE’s annual report notes that a total of 52.6 million pounds of materials were recycled from post-consumer carpet in California in 2020, down 10% from the year before. | ND700/Shutterstock

A stewardship group fell short of California’s carpet recycling mandate last year, despite a notable year-over-year jump in the recycling rate.

Posted in News | Tagged California, challenging materials, EPR/stewardship |

California is back at the center of plastics recycling debate

Published: September 15, 2021
Updated: September 15, 2021
by Colin Staub

A bill approved by California legislators has substantial implications for how common plastic packaging items are labeled, and it could have significant recycling implications across the nation in the coming years. | Feoktistoff / Shutterstock

Producers would need to meet strict criteria to use the “chasing arrows” symbol on their plastic packaging in California under a bill approved by lawmakers last week. An industry group says the move will harm polypropylene recycling.

Posted in News, Top stories | Tagged California, legislation |