Mechanical recyclers across North America have the capacity right now to recycle significantly more plastic, says APR CEO Steve Alexander. | Natallia Boroda/Shutterstock
Plastics recycling works — when the system works with it.
That’s not a slogan. It’s a reality backed by data and by decades of experience from the companies and communities that make up the plastics recycling value chain.
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The 2024 Impact Report says $5 billion in materials stayed in circulation, avoiding 25.2 million metric tons of emissions across the Closed Loop portfolio. | Chay Tee/Shutterstock
Closed Loop Partners investments and portfolio companies have helped keep more than $5 billion worth of materials and products in circulation since the firm was founded, according to its newly released 2024 Impact Report.
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The Geneva talks ended without agreement, highlighting sharp rifts on production caps, leaving no clear picture of when they might resume. | Maryshot/Shutterstock
After nearly two weeks of tense negotiations, the world’s attempt to forge the first legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution collapsed in Geneva, leaving delegates exhausted, civil groups dismayed and the path forward uncertain.
A coalition including General Mills, Mars, PepsiCo and other major brands will focus on states with EPR programs for packaging, starting with California. | Noppuns/Shutterstock
Several global brand owners have joined forces to create the US Flexible Film Initiative (USFFI), a nonprofit membership organization helping to advance scalable solutions to recycle flexible plastic packaging.
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PET bales for recycling. | Lipik Stock Media/Shutterstock
Prices for PET, HDPE and PP bales saw significant drops again this month, while film grades edged lower.
The Association of Plastic Recyclers recently announced updates to its Design for Recyclability program. | Photo Credit Tan Sackett/APR
The Association of Plastic Recyclers has added new packaging components to its eligibility criteria for Preferred Design Recognition, along with a new tool to simplify the submission process.
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Fahroni/Shutterstock
Editor’s Note: This is a monthly PCR resin pricing analysis contributed by commodity intelligence firm ICIS.
Most U.S. recycled plastic feedstock markets have seen dramatic downward swings through the first half of the year. According to recent earnings calls from several industry groups, H2 sales are expected to be flat, if not weaker, than H1.
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Industry group Coast Waste Management Association held a webinar to discuss the new reporting obligations for Canadian waste service providers. | Sherif Ashraf/Shutterstock
Editor’s Note: EPR compliance will be featured in sessions at the 2026 Resource Recycling Conference, Feb. 23-25 in San Diego, California.
Speakers from Coast Waste Management Association discussed the new reporting responsibilities for Canadian waste service providers, including recyclers, for the Federal Plastics Registry during a recent webinar. Continue Reading
Photo Courtesy of U.S. House of Representatives
Federal and state policy moves on plastics recycling topped reader interest in July, joined by efforts to expand PET thermoform recovery, a major brand’s leap in PCR use, plus heightened scrutiny of imported recycled resin amid authenticity and market impact concerns.