Legislation introduced last week establishes a framework to enable recycling-related investments. | LWPhotography/Shutterstock
Recycling issues have hit the national stage with unprecedented fervor in recent weeks. Citing recycling market challenges and growing plastic pollution, lawmakers are advancing legislation and pressuring government agencies to take action.
Proposed legislation would include measures to reduce plastic pollution and remove certain single-use products from use. | LLoughran/Shutterstock
Lawmakers are bringing plastics recycling to the federal level with a legislative proposal that includes a national bottle bill and extended producer responsibility.
Calif. legislators have heard from a cadre of industry groups recently. | ZikG/Shutterstock
As a plastic packaging reduction bill moves forward in California, an industry group is recommending a per-item fee to fund recycling efforts.
A pair of California bills taking aim at single-use plastic packaging are getting close to the governor’s desk.
Governments, MRF operators, reclaimers and end users are calling for government regulation that requires recycled content in plastic bags.
The final stamp of approval has been given to a European Union law banning certain single-use plastic products, setting high bottle collection targets and requiring recycled content in bottles.
The Washington state capitol building in Olympia.
Washington will explore plastic packaging product stewardship, industry-led efforts and other plastic waste management strategies, under legislation signed by the state’s governor this week.
European Union leaders appear to have settled on a limit for trace amounts of flame retardants in recycled plastics. A reclaimer called the limit “workable,” but activists say it’s not nearly restrictive enough.
Maine lawmakers approved the first statewide prohibition on polystyrene foodservice packaging last week. The plastics industry quickly criticized the move.
Federal legislation proposed in Canada requires consumer packaging to be made from a short list of recyclable materials. The guidelines include only two plastic resins.