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Tag Archives: research

Study: Modernized bottle bills boost redemption, save money

Published: March 23, 2022
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Bottle return at a reverse vending machine.

A study found that modernizing bottle bills in five Northeast states could create up to $160 million in savings to local governments and add up to $1.4 billion to the region’s economy annually. | Pazargic Liviu/Shutterstock

By updating older deposit return systems, states can create jobs, increase municipal savings and boost recycling rates, according to research from nonprofit Reloop North America.
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Google identifies ‘interventions’ to boost plastics recovery

Published: March 23, 2022
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Various plastic items arranged on a pink background.

A report from Google suggests that reaching a circular economy will require rethinking design, reducing resource consumption, recycling and other interventions. | Nevodka/Shutterstock

A report from one of the world’s biggest tech companies finds that both chemical and mechanical recycling will be needed to close the plastics loop by 2040. The company also discusses taxes on virgin plastics.

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How private equity has boosted various links in value chain

Published: March 16, 2022
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Greg Johnson, Evergreen’s general manager of resin and recycling, presents at the Plastics Recycling Conference last week. | Brian Adams Photography

When private equity fund The Sterling Group acquired Evergreen, staff at the PET reclaimer were nervous, Greg Johnson included.

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The Recycling Partnership rolls out grant program for PET

Published: March 16, 2022
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PET bottles for recycling.

The PET Recycling Coalition will launch in the next few months and will provide grants to MRFs and other facilities to increase the capture of PET beyond bottles. | Kwangmoozaa/Shutterstock

The Recycling Partnership will launch a PET Recycling Coalition to find solutions for common recycling challenges, a representative of the nonprofit group announced at last week’s Plastics Recycling Conference.

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Federal program pumped nearly $1.2B into recycling companies

Published: March 2, 2022
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Signing business paychecks.

An analysis of federal data shows recycling firms received over a billion dollars in Paycheck Protection Program loans. | NIKCOA/Shutterstock

U.S. recycling companies received about $1.19 billion in Paycheck Protection Program loans, including nearly $318 million received after Congress allowed certain companies to take a second bite at the PPP apple.

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OECD: Global support for plastics recycling needed

Published: February 23, 2022
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OECD logo on building exterior.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) issued its first Global Plastics Outlook report. | 360b/Shutterstock

A global body estimates production of recycled plastics has quadrupled over the past two-plus decades, but recycled resins still make up only 6% of total plastic production.

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Experts discuss trade-offs of recycled-content mandates

Published: January 12, 2022
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Empty PET bottles for recycling.

A recent webinar brought together experts to cover the benefits and complications of recycled-content mandates.| Monticello/Shutterstock

Recycled-content laws are a tool for driving post-consumer resin demand. But what if producers are given too many outs, feedstock is in short supply, or the mandates actually result in greater environmental harm?

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Multiple factors constraining food-contact PCR supply

Published: December 8, 2021
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Pellets spilled from tube onto blue surface.

A newly published study set out to explore the barriers and possible solutions to growing the use of recycled plastic in food-contact-suitable applications. | StanislauV/Shutterstock

Contaminating additives and declining recycling rates for food packaging are limiting growth in production of food-grade recycled resin, according to research from a consulting firm.

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Federal institute funds plastics recycling research

Published: December 8, 2021
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Braskem logo on computer screen under magnifying glass.

Plastics producer Braksem is involved with a couple of new research projects that have received funding from the REMADE Institute. | Pavel Kapysh/Shutterstock

Braskem, BASF, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries and other familiar industry names are involved in plastics recycling research projects that received funding this month.

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