LyondellBasell aimed to sell 150,000 tons of recycled polymers in 2022, but only sold 80,000. | JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock
LyondellBasell failed to reach its weight goal for producing and selling recycled and renewable-based resins last year, even as the global plastics producer looks to borrow $500 million for “green” projects. Continue Reading
A cup made of recycled PLA, produced by Coexpan and TotalEnergies Corbion, recently passed form, fill, seal testing. | Courtesy of TotalEnergies Corbion
TotalEnergies purchased a Spanish plastics reclaimer. Meanwhile, a joint venture involving TotalEnergies announced it is now marketing a recycled PLA cup.
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The customized facility will eventually become Verdeco’s headquarters. | Korn9/Shutterstock
Equipment is being installed in Verdeco’s new operation in South Carolina, putting the PET recycling firm on track to bring an additional 90 million pounds of capacity on-line this summer.
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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
LyondellBasell announced progress on its production of recycled polymers, and Sonoco announced it used 10% recycled content in its plastic packaging last year. | Madam F/Shutterstock
Two major companies, plastics producer LyondellBasell and packaging manufacturer Sonoco, recently published sustainability reports. The following are their plastics recycling takeaways. Continue Reading
Officials from the city of Richmond found in 2020 that the facility’s warehouses exhibited fire hazards and lacked sprinkler systems. | Michael Conroy/Associated Press
The multi-day blaze at a site storing processed recycled plastics has raised concerns about asbestos, toxic substances and why there was so much plastic kept there in the first place.
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A view inside T3’s PET recycling facility, which produces hot washed flakes, in Athi River, Kenya. | Courtesy of T3 Limited
When it comes to PET bottle recycling in Kenya, a lot will sound familiar to North American audiences: demand for food-grade RPET outpaces supply, collection remains a challenge, and companies want to shorten supply chains. Continue Reading
Recipients will put the grant money toward growing their processing capabilities. | Menzl Guenter/Shutterstock
Five grants from an initiative of The Recycling Partnership are projected to boost PET capture by 5.1 million pounds per year, among other improvements.
The Envases Universales facility in Apan, Hidalgo, Mexico. | Courtesy of Envases Universales
Packaging manufacturer Envases Universales is expanding its recycling facility in Central Mexico from an annual capacity of 60,000 metric tons to 100,000 metric tons by the end of 2024. Continue Reading
Residents in the Omaha, Neb. area can participate in a program to divert plastics not accepted in the normal curbside stream. | Courtesy of Hefty
Firstar Fiber’s in-house plastic-to-lumber operation is up and running, turning materials collected in orange bags at the curb into plastic composite lumber. The operation also recently survived a fire scare. Continue Reading