Amy Uong, second from right, speaks during ‘Saying Yes in the Land of No,’ a session held during the Resource Recycling Conference in Kentucky last month. | Dan Holtmeyer/Resource Recycling, Inc.
Faced with challenges moving recycled materials in recent years, MRFs and curbside recycling programs have occasionally opted to stop accepting certain materials, particularly experimental or harder-to-market packaging types.
The first report from The Recycling Partnership’s Polypropylene Recycling Coalition set a goal of increasing the U.S. PP recycling rate in the next two years. | Afanasiev Andrii/Shutterstock
The Recycling Partnership’s Polypropylene Recycling Coalition has given out $15 million in 60 grants, improving PP recycling access for 48 million people in 26 states, according to its first annual report. Continue Reading
Professors and students developed a process to turn both PE and PP into propylene monomer. | Afanasiev-Andrii/Shutterstock
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a chemical process to vaporize PE and PP into the feedstock monomer propylene.
Advanced Drainage Systems expects to spend $250 million to $301 million on capital expenditures this year. | Courtesy of ADS
Several plastics reclaimers and recycled resin end users recently shared details about their operations in earnings calls. From capital project spending at ADS to chemical recycling expansions at LyondellBasell, here’s a roundup of recycling operations news.
Although companies may be shifting to a broader carbon-footprint strategy, PCR production still needs to increase several times over, a recent RaboResearch report said | RecycleMan/Shutterstock
Brand owner targets for PCR content have helped drive demand for recycled plastics in the U.S. and Europe in recent years, but PCR production needs to increase as much as fivefold to meet those goals, according to a recent RaboResearch report. Continue Reading
ADS bought a third of the total color HDPE bales in North America in fiscal 2024, and recycled plastics accounted for 50% of the company’s resin purchases in that time period. | Photo courtesy of ADS
Advanced Drainage Systems has reported flat consumption of recycled plastics over the past few years, but in fiscal 2024 the company increased the share of recycled materials to 50% of its total resin purchases, according to its most recent ESG report.
Grizzly Wood is made of 100% plastic waste, which limits color options but holds up well to the state’s harsh climate. | Courtesy of Alaska Plastic Recovery
A small company in Alaska is lending the state’s resourcefulness and ingenuity to creating composite lumber and addressing coastal plastics pollution. Continue Reading
After multiple mechanical issues over the past year, the recycled PP resin startup is feeling optimistic. | Praethip Docekalova/Shutterstock
The PureCycle PP processing plant in Ironton, Ohio, has produced more than 1.1 million pounds of resin pellets since restarting May 30, according to the latest company update. CEO Dustin Olson elaborated on the progress in an interview. Continue Reading
Keurig Dr Pepper set numerous packaging goals for 2025 to reduce plastic use. | Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
North American beverage company Keurig Dr Pepper has seen progress toward most of its 2025 plastic-use targets, according to its 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report. Continue Reading
Keurig Dr Pepper has faced problems with recycling claims for its K-Cup pods | Lester Balajadia/Shutterstock
North American beverage company Keurig Dr Pepper continues to work on increasing the recyclability of its K-Cup coffee pods and reducing the amount of plastic used, according to its 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report. Continue Reading