Researchers found that one UK facility discharged somewhere between 59 and 1,184 metric tons of microplastics in a single year. | Microgen/Shutterstock
Research from the UK found that plastic recycling facilities are discharging microplastics into water systems and suggested both further research and stronger wastewater filtration systems to address the pollution. Continue Reading
Nonprofit Ocean Legacy Foundation partnered with the Regional District of Mount Waddington to open an Ocean Plastic Depot at 7 Mile Landfill and Recycling Centre. | Courtesy of the Ocean Legacy Foundation
British Columbians have another place to recycle plastics collected during shoreline, ocean and industrial cleanups. Continue Reading
RePurpose Global is currently working with over 250 businesses around the world to reduce their plastic impacts through an offset credit system. | Courtesy of RePurpose Global
The majority of Fortune 500 companies are not on track to achieve their packaging sustainability commitments, a reflection of the gap between goals and on-the-ground impacts, Peter Wang Hjemdahl said.
The Ocean Conservancy has withdrawn its support for incineration as a way to combat plastic pollution. | Molishka/Shutterstock
A top environmental watchdog has rescinded its influential 2015 report, which pointed the finger at Asia for ocean-bound plastic generation and included incineration and waste-to-energy as solutions to pollution.
Connecticut students collected nearly 4 tons of bottle caps for recycling through a collaborative effort. | Courtesy of SoundWaters
Connecticut middle school students, with help from processor UltraPoly and other entities, recently collected 2.5 million plastic caps and recycled them into end products as part of a lesson on microplastics.
European company Fortum developed a post-consumer plastic chair to showcase how recycled plastic compounds can be used for more technical and challenging products. | Courtesy of Fortum
Several companies have announced progress toward recycled-content goals and new products made from recycled plastics. Here’s a roundup of recent developments.
Shipping company CMA CGM didn’t specify exactly which categories of plastic scrap or waste the prohibition would apply to. | EQRoy/Shutterstock
CMA CGM Group, the third-largest ocean shipping company in the world, announced it will no longer carry post-use plastics on its ships as of June 1.
Ocean Legacy performs its own cleanup efforts and also serves as a collection hub for all shoreline cleanups in British Columbia. | Courtesy of Ocean Legacy
Canadian company Ocean Legacy is working to expand production of its 100% recycled ocean pellet and is eyeing U.S. markets.
The expansion will add up to 50 jobs to Padnos’ Wyoming, Mich. plastics recycling plant. | SevenMaps/Shutterstock
More ocean-bound plastics will be recycled in Michigan after Padnos decided to expand its plastics recycling plant, a $6.6 million project.
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A factory team working on the sorting process conveyor in Polindo’s aggregation center. | Courtesy of Circulate Capital
A partnership involving Circulate Capital, Bantam Materials and an Indonesian processor will help to recover PET from remote areas of the Asian nation and deliver it to grocery store shelves in Europe and America.